It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Henry Mancini / arr. Roy Phillippe
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001687
$60.00
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Description
A classic pop tune from the pen of Henry Mancini has enjoyed new life with the energy infused by Michael Bublé on his "Call Me Irresponsible" CD. Roy Phillippe has transferred this energy in his young band arrangement. Complete with salsa-style percussion, this is one hot chart. High energy!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PK-0001687
More about this title
About the Composer: Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini (1924-1994) shaped the sound of American popular music across film, television, and the concert hall. His gift for melody and orchestration made him one of the most recorded composers of the twentieth century, with a catalog that ranges from sophisticated jazz-inflected film scores to accessible, singable tunes that audiences remember for decades.
For music educators, Mancini's work offers a direct bridge between classical craft and popular idiom. His arrangements reward both performers and listeners with harmonic sophistication wrapped in immediately engaging melodies. Teaching his music teaches students that popular and concert music are not opposites.
Why we love this
Roy Phillippe's arrangement captures the infectious swagger of Michael Bublé's version while keeping the instrumentation straightforward enough for Grade 2 bands. The salsa-style percussion writing gives younger players the chance to experience contemporary rhythm beyond march and swing, and the energy here is genuine rather than forced.
What to expect
This is an upbeat Latin-tinged pop number that bounces with Saturday-night energy. The melody is hook-laden and bright, the rhythm section drives forward with salsa flair, and the overall effect is warm and inviting rather than trying too hard to be cool.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 level who want to add contemporary pop repertoire without sacrificing musicality. Directors looking to program something that appeals to both young musicians and family audiences will find this accessible and satisfying.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the Latin percussion layers so they propel the band without overpowering the melody. Young players often play louder when excited; remind them that clarity matters more than volume.
- Lock the clave rhythm early in rehearsal. If your rhythm section nails the foundational Latin feel, the melody line will sit on top of something solid and the arrangement comes alive.
- Keep the tempo consistent and slightly brisk. This piece thrives on forward motion; dragging it removes the salsa character that makes the chart work.
- Shape the brass line with dynamic contour rather than playing it at one volume. Small fluctuations in volume create shape and keep the energy from feeling flat.
How to use it
Program this as a lighter moment in a concert, perhaps paired with other pop or jazz standards, or use it as a closer to send audiences out smiling. The Grade 2 accessibility makes it realistic for spring concerts when rehearsal time is limited but you want something contemporary and fun.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing Latin rhythms (clave, montuno figures)
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in a pop arrangement
- Maintaining steady tempo during syncopated sections
- Phrasing pop melodies with natural musicality rather than mechanical precision
- Listening across the ensemble to support a unified Latin groove