Love Is Here To Stay: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rick Stitzel's arrangement respects the song's inherent warmth while making it genuinely playable for young ensembles. The scoring avoids the common trap of oversimplifying standards; instead, it preserves harmonic sophistication in a way that teaches students how jazz voicings function. This becomes a program centerpiece that sounds mature without requiring advanced technique.

A gentle exhale. The moderate swing tempo and ensemble-based texture create an intimate quality, even with full voicings. You hear warmth and reflection rather than showiness, making it restorative on the program.

Grade 3 jazz ensembles ready to move beyond high-energy charts and experience lyrical playing. This works equally well for concert bands exploring jazz arranging or jazz bands seeking a standard that doesn't demand virtuosic soloists.

• Let the rhythm section establish the swing feel during rehearsals before full ensemble entry. A relaxed, behind-the-beat approach distinguishes this from straight eighths.
• Balance the melody against the harmonies. The arrangement's richness can overshadow the tune if sections don't hear themselves as support.
• Shape the phrases with subtle dynamics rather than dramatic swells. A moderately slow swing benefits from breathing space and clarity of line.

Pair this with uptempo jazz selections to demonstrate range within the genre. It's ideal for mid-concert placement where audience attention naturally settles, or use it to close a set on a sentimental note without losing musical substance.

• Swing interpretation and rhythmic placement behind the beat
• Voicing balance and listening within jazz harmonies
• Melodic shaping in a lyrical rather than driving context
• Reading ensemble-based jazz arranging (awareness of roles beyond solo features)