Nothing Else Matters (arr. Roger Holmes): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Metallica / Arranged by Roger Holmes
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK01697575
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Description
Introduce 6/8 to your jazz ensemble with this excellent arrangement of Metallica's hit ballad from their historic Black album.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01697575
More about this title
About the Artist: Metallica
Metallica formed in 1981 and became one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time. Their 1991 self-titled album, commonly known as The Black Album for its all-black cover, marked a significant shift toward accessible songwriting while maintaining the band's signature intensity. For music educators, Metallica's work offers a rare bridge between what students listen to and serious musical study, making repertoire selection feel relevant rather than imposed.
Why we love this
Roger Holmes has crafted an arrangement that respects the song's emotional core while opening up pedagogical possibilities usually unavailable in popular music adaptations. The 6/8 meter gives your ensemble an unfamiliar rhythmic environment to navigate, and the ballad's restraint means students must listen carefully to one another rather than hide behind volume. Programming a well-known rock ballad alongside your classical and traditional jazz selections signals that musicianship matters across all genres.
What to expect
The arrangement preserves the original's quiet introspection and emotional weight. You'll hear sustained tones, careful voicing, and space for individual voices to emerge; this is music that asks for restraint and sensitivity rather than flashiness.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the high school or early college level who are ready to tackle meter and style outside traditional swing conventions. Directors looking to expand their program's genre reach without sacrificing musicality will find this both accessible and artistically serious.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the 6/8 pulse early in rehearsal by singing the opening phrase as a single melodic gesture rather than counting individual eighth notes; this prevents the ensemble from collapsing into triplet-based thinking.
- Balance the arrangement by assigning lead voices clearly in each section and having supporting players dial back their volume on harmonic content; the beauty of a ballad lies in transparency.
- Use the recorded accompaniment as a reference for tempo and feel, but challenge your ensemble to breathe together as an interpretive choice rather than locking rigidly to the click.
How to use it
Pair this with a program theme exploring how different genres approach the same emotional content, or use it as a standalone feature that speaks directly to your students' musical lives outside the rehearsal room. A ballad of this caliber works beautifully as a closer that leaves the audience in contemplation rather than reaching for applause.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and sustaining 6/8 meter in a jazz context
- Balancing harmonic support with melodic clarity
- Shaping phrasing in a ballad without conductor cues on every beat
- Listening for blend and intonation in sparse textures
- Interpreting dynamics and rubato as an ensemble