Nutcracker Suite, Part III: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy: 4 Clarinets (Flute/Clarinet, Clarinet, Clarinet/Alto-Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Piano, Bass & Percussion Ad Lib) Conductor Score & Parts

Bill Mays brings genuine jazz sophistication to this beloved melody without losing its delicate character. The arrangement strikes an unusual balance: it's accessible enough for intermediate players yet offers enough harmonic and rhythmic depth to engage advanced ensembles, making it genuinely rewarding to perform rather than just competent as a novelty arrangement.

Delicate and dreamy, with the crystalline quality of the original Nutcracker moment preserved through Bill Mays' jazz lens. The arrangement drifts through sophisticated harmonies and syncopation while keeping the Sugar Plum Fairy's signature lightness intact, creating something that feels both familiar and fresh.

Intermediate to advanced clarinet quartets and ensembles looking for a holiday standard that transcends the typical Christmas music category. This works for concert bands and woodwind ensembles with flexible instrumentation, and it's equally at home in jazz contexts or mixed classical-jazz programming.

• Balance the melody between parts one and two; the sweetness of this tune depends on transparency rather than volume. Let the upper clarinets sing without drowning the middle voices.
• Treat the jazz voicings and solos as integral to the arrangement, not as window dressing. Commit to the swing feel and phrasing even if your group is primarily classical.
• Use the piano and bass parts to anchor ensemble cohesion, especially during the written solos. A solid harmonic foundation lets the clarinets breathe and explore their individual lines.
• Pay attention to the interplay between written parts and the ad lib rhythm section. The piece works beautifully without drums and bass, but if you include them, use them to enhance clarity rather than add volume.

Program this as a bridge between classical and contemporary jazz repertoire, especially effective in winter concerts or holiday programs that want to avoid purely nostalgic Christmas fare. It also works beautifully as an interlude or featured moment within a larger ensemble concert, offering visual variety through the smaller clarinet quartet format.

• Reading jazz notation and swing rhythms
• Balancing within a small ensemble without a conductor
• Interpreting piano voicings and jazz harmonies from a classical background
• Managing the technical demands of both written solos and accompaniment parts
• Adapting to flexible instrumentation (with or without rhythm section)