Holiday Gift Bachs Cover Image

Holiday Gift Bachs: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$7.00 USD
$7.00 USD
Skip to product information
Holiday Gift Bachs Cover Image
Holiday Gift Bachs: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Holiday Gift Bachs: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Johann Sebastian Bach / arr. Mike Story

Grade: 1 (Easy)

Item: 00-29771S
$7.00
Shipped

One moment…

Description
Clever title! Only arranger Mike Story can take the Bach holiday classic "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and adapt it for young players. Written-out solos for 1st trumpet and 1st alto sax, easy brass ranges, an easy jazz waltz swing feel, and it all will assemble immediately. Make your holidays happy with this chart! (2:47)

Holiday Gift Bachs: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081320977
SKU: 00-29771S

More about this title

About the Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) shaped nearly every compositional tradition that followed him. His contrapuntal mastery and harmonic language remain the foundation of classical music study, and his works continue to reveal fresh possibilities in the hands of skilled arrangers. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" comes from his Cantata BWV 147, a sacred work that has transcended its original context to become one of the most beloved melodies in Western music.

Why we love this

Mike Story's arrangement respects the essential character of Bach's melody while making it genuinely accessible for first-year jazz musicians. The written-out solos for trumpet and alto sax mean your players can focus on style and phrasing rather than improvisation, and the relaxed jazz waltz swing feel sits naturally under young hands. This is how you introduce serious repertoire to developing ensemble players without diluting the musical content.

What to expect

Stately and warm, with the gentle forward motion of a waltz and the harmonic richness Bach brought to everything he wrote. The jazz colors brighten the baroque counterpoint without sentimentalizing it, creating something that feels both familiar and fresh.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors working with first-year students who benefit from strong melodic anchors and straightforward harmonic language. This score works for groups just discovering jazz arranging conventions and for programs seeking to bridge classical literacy with jazz ensemble work.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody between your lead voices and keep the supporting voices transparent; Bach's lines sing best when every voice can be heard.
  • Shape the waltz swing with a gentle lilt rather than a hard bounce; the character lives in elegance, not flash.
  • Let the written trumpet and alto sax solos breathe as featured voices, but remind the section players that their accompanimental figures matter just as much to the overall texture.

How to use it

Program this during winter holiday concerts as a sophisticated alternative to standard seasonal fare, or use it early in the year when your ensemble is still building confidence. Its moderate length (2:47) and accessible style make it ideal for mixed-ability situations or as a bridge piece between contemporary jazz charts and classical repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading jazz ensemble voicings and chord symbols
  • Playing swing rhythms in waltz time (3/4)
  • Maintaining independence within an ensemble while supporting featured solo voices
  • Balancing melody-driven and comping-driven parts

You May Also Like