Greensleeves: Score
Arranged by Chris Sharp
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-DJE4120S
$5.00
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Description
The well-known English melody gets new life in this arrangement that alternates between bossa nova and swing. It can be used any time of year and also works well on your holiday concert as What Child is This?, which uses the same melody. A recurring Birdland-style groove keeps the energy moving forward. No solos in this one - just straight-ahead ensemble writing!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DJE4120S
More about this title
About the Arranger: Chris Sharp
Chris Sharp holds a Ph.D. and brings three decades of professional experience as a composer, arranger, and orchestrator. His career spans Disney Parks (where he worked as both a performing trombonist and arranger since 1984), major entertainment clients including Universal Studios and the Boston Pops, and military ensembles like the USAF Airmen of Note.
Currently Director of Bands at Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida, Sharp teaches arranging, music theory, and technology alongside his active conducting and adjudication work. His compositions and arrangements appear regularly at major conferences like the Midwest Clinic, and he is a multiple recipient of the ASCAPlus award.
Why we love this
Sharp's clever use of stylistic contrast within a single, accessible piece gives young jazz ensembles real rhythmic variety to tackle without overwhelming them. The choice to skip solos entirely means every player stays engaged in the ensemble sound, and the recurring Birdland-style groove creates a strong forward momentum that keeps rehearsals energetic. Programming flexibility is built in: use it as a straightforward holiday offering or swap the melody into its sacred identity mid-season.
What to expect
A familiar melody gets a modern groove without losing its essential character. The piece glides between the relaxed swagger of bossa nova and the snap of swing, with a propulsive underlying rhythm that keeps everything moving forward. It feels contemporary and accessible, yet steeped in jazz tradition.
Who it's for
Beginning jazz ensembles (Grade 1.5) seeking holiday or year-round repertoire that avoids complex solos and section features. Directors who want students to experience genuine stylistic contrast and ensemble interdependence without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythmic relationship between the bossa nova and swing sections in sectionals before bringing them together; the transition works only when both grooves feel equally grounded.
- Balance the melody line across different instruments during the alternating sections so the tune remains recognizable even as the accompaniment shifts style.
- Keep the Birdland-inspired groove tight and consistent; any looseness in the rhythm section will muddy the energy that drives this arrangement forward.
How to use it
Place this in the lighter half of a holiday concert to give audiences a jazz interpretation of a piece they know well. It also works as a seasonal opener if you're programming the piece apart from the holidays. The no-solo format makes it ideal for mid-rehearsal season when technical demands need to stay manageable but musicianship can deepen.
Skills your students will build
- Distinguishing and executing bossa nova and swing rhythmic feels
- Maintaining ensemble cohesion across stylistic shifts
- Contributing to groove-based accompaniment patterns
- Reading and performing in a jazz ensemble context at Grade 1.5 difficulty