My Foolish Heart: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rivello captures the lyrical warmth of Young's melody while keeping the ensemble writing accessible enough for Grade 3 players to execute with real musicality. The written-out alto sax feature gives your soloist room to shine without requiring advanced improvisation skills, and the Kenton-influenced textures sound far more sophisticated than the grade level suggests.

Warm and introspective, with the kind of lush chord voicings that evoke late-night jazz clubs. The textures breathe and sway rather than drive, allowing space for the alto sax to sing above a bed of supportive harmonies.

Jazz ensemble directors seeking a beautiful feature that showcases alto saxophone without demanding improvisation, and ensembles ready to handle Grade 3 ensemble writing with mature harmonic language. This works equally well for groups with advanced soloists and those developing their alto sax players.

• Balance the ensemble voicings so the alto sax melody cuts through clearly; the lush textures can easily overshadow the soloist if the section volumes aren't carefully managed.
• Take time with the ballad tempo in rehearsal; train the ensemble to listen into longer phrases rather than playing note-to-note, which is what separates a performance from a mere reading.
• Emphasize the lead trumpet's written-out upper register passages as transitional moments that support the alto sax feature, not compete with it.

Program this as a contrasting feature in a jazz concert dominated by uptempo charts, or use it as an opening ballad that establishes an intimate mood before moving into higher-energy material. It also works beautifully as a concert closer.

• Balancing section voicings to support a solo feature
• Phrasing and breath control in ballad tempos
• Reading lead trumpet upper register extensions (written A above staff)
• Listening and ensemble cohesion without a driving rhythm section groove