Come Sunday: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rick Hirsch's arrangement captures the elegance of Ellington's ballad writing while keeping ranges manageable and solos accessible for developing players. The written-out tenor and trombone solos remove the intimidation factor of improvisation while still delivering authentic jazz character, and the straight-eighths feel sits perfectly at the tempo to let students breathe without rushing.

A warm, introspective ballad that invites players to listen carefully to one another. The straight-eighths feel and sophisticated voicings create an intimate atmosphere, like the ensemble is having a thoughtful conversation rather than making a statement.

Grade 2 jazz ensembles ready to move beyond swing tunes into ballad playing and who benefit from written solos to build confidence before exploring improvisation. This works equally well for younger high school groups or community ensembles where musicality matters more than virtuosity.

• Shape the ensemble voicings by thinking of them as vocal lines rather than block chords; each voice should have gentle direction and weight, especially in the lower register.
• Let the rhythm section settle into a relaxed pocket at 84 BPM before bringing in the horn section. A loose, conversational groove will make the ballad setting feel natural.
• Balance the written solos so they sit above the ensemble but never shout. The beauty of this piece lives in the interplay between solo voice and background harmony.
• Take full advantage of the optional vibes and percussion parts if your section can handle them; they add shimmer without competing for attention.

Pair this as the emotional centerpiece of a concert built around Ellington's compositional legacy, or use it as a bridge piece between uptempo swingers to showcase your ensemble's range and sensitivity. At 3:30, it fits naturally into a 50-minute program as a moment of reflection.

• Ballad playing and sustaining tone with gentle dynamic control
• Reading and interpreting written-out jazz solos
• Listening to ensemble voicings and tuning chord clusters
• Straight-eighths phrasing and jazz articulation
• Following harmonic movement in sophisticated chord progressions