Come Fly With Me: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the swagger and sophistication of 1950s big band writing without overcomplicating things for a Grade 3 ensemble. The scoring offers genuine variety across the sections, so every player gets moments to shine while the piece maintains that effortless, polished sound that makes Sinatra's original so compelling. It's the kind of arrangement that sounds professional in performance and teaches students what authentic jazz orchestration actually looks like.

Smooth, confident, and urbane. The arrangement has a relaxed sophistication that invites audiences into a world of cool elegance without a trace of pretension. From the opening moments through the final cadence, it swings with purpose and style.

Concert bands with solid fundamental technique seeking repertoire that connects to the jazz and popular music traditions. Directors who want their students to experience what professional big band writing sounds like without requiring advanced technical facility.

• Balance the saxophones as the lead voice during the main melody; they should anchor the sound while brass provides support rather than competing for attention.
• Lock the rhythm section into a relaxed swing feel early in rehearsals. The groove is what sells this arrangement, so invest time getting the drums, bass, and piano speaking as one unit.
• Shape the phrasing in four and eight bar phrases rather than measure by measure. This tune flows on a larger architectural scale, and your students will play with more sophistication when they understand the bigger picture.
• Keep the tempo honest. The 3:15 duration assumes a tempo that breathes naturally; rushing makes the arrangement sound thin and diminishes its impact.

This works beautifully on a pops concert or as a bridge piece between classical and jazz repertoire in a concert that explores American musical traditions. It pairs well with other Sinatra-era standards or with contemporary jazz arrangements, giving your program a cohesive personality.

• Reading and executing swing articulation in big band style
• Balancing multiple simultaneous melodic lines in jazz voicings
• Maintaining relaxed, forward motion in a mid-tempo groove
• Responding to dynamic shaping that serves the phrase rather than the measure
• Understanding the roles of melody, harmony, and rhythm in jazz ensemble writing