New Orleans: Conductor Score & Parts

Energetic and good-natured, with the loose-limbed swing of a New Orleans street parade. The medley format keeps the music moving while each tune carries its own distinct character, from the syncopated strut of Tiger Rag to the warm lilt of Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.

Tuba and euphonium quartets looking for accessible, entertaining repertoire that plays well for audiences. This arrangement works equally well for high school ensembles and university-level groups seeking lighter fare with genuine musical substance.

• Lock the rhythmic foundation early. The syncopation and call-and-response passages demand tight ensemble time, especially between the tuba parts.
• Shape the dynamics phrase by phrase. Dixieland thrives on lift and energy, not static volume levels.
• Let the melodies breathe. These tunes are meant to be sung, not rushed, even at lively tempos.

Program this as a palate-cleansing contrast to heavier tuba quartet works, or as a spring concert closer. It pairs well with other American vernacular music and gives audiences a chance to hear low brass in a lighter, more playful context.

• Dixieland jazz vocabulary and articulation style
• Ensemble balance within a homogeneous instrumentation
• Syncopated rhythm reading and steady subdivision
• Shaping phrasing in a lyrical style while maintaining forward motion