Free Bird: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Allen Collins / By Ronnie Van Zant / As performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd / Arranged by Paul Murtha
Grade: 1-2
Item: 35-PK00122392
$40.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Free Bird - Full Score | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Aux Percussion | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Flute | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Bb Clarinet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Bb Clarinet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - F Horn | $6.00 | |
| Free Bird - Tuba | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Originally recorded by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, this is one of the most powerful "arena rock" tunes of all time. Opening in a rock ballad style, the chart then finishes with a driving rock vamp that can be used as a flexible solo section. Skillfully arranged for beginning bands, this is sure to be a favorite.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00122392
More about this title
About the Composer: Allen Collins
Allen Collins was the guitarist and a principal songwriter for Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Southern rock pioneers who defined arena rock in the 1970s. His work on "Free Bird" exemplifies the band's gift for writing anthemic, emotionally direct rock songs that have endured across generations of listeners and musicians.
Why we love this
Paul Murtha's arrangement captures everything that makes "Free Bird" a cultural landmark while making it genuinely playable for young ensembles. The ballad opening gives students a chance to find beauty in simplicity, and the vamp section lets your soloists shine without requiring advanced technical facility.
What to expect
The opening evokes a quiet moment before a stadium erupts, all restraint and yearning. Then the rock vamp kicks in with pure forward momentum, inviting your ensemble to feel the satisfaction of locking into a groove that millions of people recognize.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles and beginning bands at grades 1 through 2 who want to play something their audiences actually know and care about. This works equally well for groups building their rock and contemporary music repertoire as for those looking for a piece that motivates younger players.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the ballad opening with long, sustained lines rather than rushing the tempo. Younger players often compress the drama here; resist that impulse and let the silence between phrases do its work.
- Lock the rhythm section into the vamp groove with complete precision once the chart pivots to the driving rock feel. This section's power depends entirely on how locked your drummer and bassist are together.
- Feature different soloists during the vamp section rather than having the same person improvise for eight minutes straight. Rotating through trumpet, saxophone, and trombone keeps energy fresh and gives more students ownership of the performance.
How to use it
Consider pairing this with other classic rock arrangements to create a mixed concert that connects with families and community members who might not attend a traditional jazz band concert. The piece also works beautifully as a concert closer, since it builds naturally from intimate to anthemic.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained phrasing and breath control in ballad style
- Locking rhythm sections into rock grooves
- Responding to flexible vamp sections with confident improvisation or solos
- Dynamic contrast between intimate and ensemble-driven textures
- Reading and executing rock-style articulation and time feels