Moondance: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$47.00 USD

Moondance: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Moondance: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49202
Price: 47.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Words and music by Van Morrison / arr. Mike Story

Grade: 1 (Easy)

Item: 00-49202

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The favorite classic rock shuffle---to know it is to love it! Played around 134 BPM with written-out solos for alto, tenor, trumpet 1, and trombone 1. No worries for trumpet 1 range which is to written D fourth line. All the standard optional parts to include flute, clarinet, and vibes. Moondance is arranged by Mike Story. (3:15) 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, Moondance: Jazz Ensemble 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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Series: First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 36

ISBN10: 1-4706-4709-5

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4709-4

UPC: 038081566320

SKU: 00-49202

More about this title

About the Composer: Van Morrison

Van Morrison is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose career spans over six decades. Born in 1945, Morrison is celebrated for his distinctive vocal style and prolific output across blues, rock, soul, and folk traditions. His compositions are characterized by lyrical depth, sophisticated harmonic structures, and an authentic emotional directness that has influenced generations of musicians.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures the irresistible groove and warmth of Morrison's original while remaining completely accessible to developing jazz ensembles. The written-out solos give your students real melodic content to learn rather than forcing them to improvise, and the flexible instrumentation means you can voice it for exactly who shows up on any given day.

What to expect

Moondance settles into an easy, groovy pocket that feels effortless once your ensemble finds the shuffle rhythm. The melody unfolds with a warm, conversational quality, as if the band is speaking to each other across the ensemble, and the written solos invite genuine musicality rather than pyrotechnics.

Who it's for

This score works beautifully for early-level jazz ensembles seeking substantial yet manageable repertoire. Directors building a first jazz program will appreciate the straightforward voicing, accessible range, and the fact that students can grasp the arrangement's logic quickly and focus on sound quality and phrasing.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the shuffle feel between rhythm section and front line; the 134 BPM swing rides on crisp articulation and consistent hi-hat definition rather than rushing.
Feature each soloist in turn but keep the ensemble sound cohesive behind them. Balance is everything when five different players get written statements.
The trumpet 1 range sits comfortably for first-year players, so use this as an opportunity to build confidence in melodic phrasing and tone control over high-range anxiety.
Let the vibe solos breathe; they're written to sit in conversation with the horns, not to compete.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to establish an immediate connection with the audience and set a relaxed, joyful tone. It also pairs well on a program with other accessible jazz standards or as a bridge between a classical set and a more contemporary group, giving your ensemble a chance to showcase growing comfort with jazz vocabulary without overwhelming them.