Cy Coleman: Big Spender (Sweet Charity): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Peggy Lee / As performed by Cy Coleman / As performed by Dorothy Fields / Arranged by Robert Longfield
Grade: 2-3
Item: 35-PK00319506
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Description
Cy Coleman: Big Spender (Sweet Charity)
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00319506
More about this title
About the Artist: Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee's career spanned seven decades, during which she became one of the most versatile and sophisticated interpreters in American popular music. Her collaborations with composers like Cy Coleman and lyricist Dorothy Fields produced some of the Great American Songbook's most enduring numbers, including the title track from Sweet Charity, which became synonymous with her artistry.
Lee's influence on music education extends beyond her recordings; her impeccable phrasing, rhythmic flexibility, and ability to inhabit a lyric offer invaluable lessons in how jazz standards reward careful listening and studied interpretation. For students and directors, her recordings serve as masterclasses in elegance and restraint.
Why we love this
Robert Longfield's arrangement captures the sophistication and swagger of the original while keeping the string writing playable for intermediate ensembles. The orchestration sparkles without overwhelming younger players, and the groove sits naturally in the idiom rather than feeling retrofitted.
What to expect
Slinky, confident, and unapologetically cool. The melody glides over a groove that feels casual but is built with precision, and the whole piece carries the kind of sophisticated urban sophistication that made mid-century popular song a genuine art form.
Who it's for
String orchestras working at the high school freshman level or advanced middle school program, particularly those ready to explore jazz standards with harmonic and rhythmic sophistication. Teachers seeking accessible entry points into the songbook will find this a reliable choice that builds ensemble chops without compromising musicality.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the ensemble so the melody can sing above the harmonic foundation; strings often want to swell on sustained chords, which clouds the clarity that makes this tune work.
- Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by tapping the backbeat and encouraging the rhythm section to play "on top" of the quarter-note pulse rather than with it.
- Let the bridge breathe slightly; this is where the arrangement often opens up, and taking a hair of space can reset the listener's ear before the final statement.
- Pay attention to articulation markings in the string parts. They're lean and purposeful, designed to keep the texture transparent and jazz-like.
How to use it
Position this in a spring concert celebrating the Great American Songbook, or pair it with other Coleman or Rodgers and Hart arrangements to build a cohesive set. It works equally well as a concert opener that signals ensemble class and style to your audience.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
- Swung eighth-note execution
- Reading and responding to score markings in a stylistically unfamiliar idiom
- Balancing melodic line against harmonic accompaniment
- Sustaining groove orientation while maintaining classical string technique