Michel Legrand Album: Conductor Score

Legrand's standards and film themes sit at the sweet spot between sophistication and playability. Arranger Bert Ligon has voiced these pieces for string quartet in ways that preserve the composer's harmonic richness while keeping the writing idiomatically suited to the ensemble, making this album a genuinely rewarding addition to a chamber music season.

These are sophisticated, urbane pieces with the warmth of classic film scores and the elegance of 1960s and 1970s popular song. The string writing glows with harmonic color while maintaining an intimacy suited to chamber performance.

String quartet ensembles working at the intermediate to early-advanced level will find these arrangements accessible without being simplistic. Directors programming a mix of classical and popular repertoire will appreciate how naturally these pieces bridge that divide.

• Balance the melodic line against the harmonic voices, especially in the slower themes. These songs depend on a singing quality that goes beyond technical precision.
• Use the lyrical nature of the material to develop ensemble intonation. The jazz-influenced harmonies in pieces like 'The Summer Knows' expose tuning issues immediately.
• Shape phrases with attention to the original vocal contours. Many of these were written as songs, and honoring that singing tradition makes the arrangement breathe.

Consider programming this album as a complete thematic concert, or select individual pieces to anchor pops concerts and chamber music showcases. The variety of tempo and mood across the eight selections makes it easy to build a compelling set without repetition.

• Balancing melody and harmony in a four-part texture
• Intonation in jazz-influenced harmonies and chromatic voice leading
• Lyrical phrasing and line shaping in non-classical contexts
• Reading and executing the conductor's interpretive choices from a score