J.S. Jig: Score
By Brant Karrick
Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)
Item: 00-PR-0001420
$11.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
This delightful offering presents the music of Bach as an Irish Jig! Very cleverly done, J. S. Jig is certain to be a favorite on your next concert! (4:00) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, J.S. Jig: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
254
SKU:
00-PR-0001420
More about this title
About the Composer: Brant Karrick
Brant Karrick has shaped band programs across three decades as both educator and creative force. He directed bands at the University of Toledo for nine years before moving to Northern Kentucky University in 2003, where he oversees the entire band curriculum, teaches conducting and orchestration, and mentors music education students. His work as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician has taken him across six continents, and his compositions and arrangements are performed regularly by college and high school ensembles worldwide.
Why we love this
Karrick's arrangement walks a clever line between genuine musical substance and sheer entertainment value. He respects Bach's counterpoint and harmonic architecture while wrapping it in the energy and bounce of an Irish jig, creating a piece that satisfies musicians who care about the craft while delighting audiences who simply want to have fun. At Grade 4, it's genuinely playable without being simplistic.
What to expect
Playful and infectious, with Bach's architectural elegance dancing through an unmistakably Irish rhythmic energy. There's wit in the writing and momentum in the orchestration, making it feel both respectful of its source material and genuinely contemporary.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the intermediate to early advanced level who want a showstopper that challenges musicians without overwhelming them. This works especially well for groups seeking repertoire that audiences enjoy immediately while still offering genuine musical substance and teaching value.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the jig's characteristic lilt intact by maintaining rhythmic clarity in the accompaniment figures; the melody will land with more impact if the harmonic texture stays crisp and bounces lightly rather than feeling heavy.
- Balance the principal melodic lines carefully so the Bach counterpoint reads clearly despite the folk idiom; this is as much about voice independence as it is about capturing a jig's character.
- Let the full band settle into the groove before pushing the tempo; a well-established rhythmic foundation makes the arrangement's clever orchestration choices land with authority.
How to use it
Program this as a lighter moment that lands powerfully in concert context, especially effective mid-program to shift energy or as a closer if you want audiences leaving with smiles. It pairs well alongside more serious masterworks, offering variety without sacrificing musical credibility.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing consistent jig rhythms (dotted figures, offbeat articulations) in ensemble context
- Balancing melodic independence with ensemble blend across multiple voice parts
- Stylistic interpretation of articulation and phrasing in a folk idiom
- Sustaining rhythmic precision during quick note passages while maintaining musical shape