Paint It, Black (arr. Johnnie Vinson): Flex Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by The Rolling Stones / Arranged by Johnnie Vinson
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK01282529
$60.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Taking inspiration from the cello version made popular in the television series "Wednesday," here is a clever arrangement of the Rolling Stones hit scored for flexible instrumentation.
Paint It, Black (arr. Johnnie Vinson): Flex Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01282529
More about this title
About the Artist: The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones emerged from London's blues scene in the early 1960s and became one of rock music's most enduring and influential bands. Their catalog spans decades of innovation, from blues-rooted originals to genre-defining rock anthems that continue to resonate across generations of listeners and musicians.
Why we love this
Johnnie Vinson's arrangement captures the brooding intensity of this iconic song while making it accessible to younger ensembles. The Grade 2 scoring respects the cello-driven melody that made the Wednesday version memorable, giving students a modern rock standard they actually want to play.
What to expect
Atmospheric and slightly ominous, with a creeping energy that builds from sparse textures into something fuller and more grounded. The arrangement honors the original's minor key moodiness while letting young musicians explore how rock arrangements can be both sophisticated and straightforward.
Who it's for
Flex ensembles at the middle school level and developing high school groups looking for repertoire with immediate appeal. This works equally well for beginning band, string orchestra, or mixed instrumentation settings where you need something students recognize and enjoy.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the cello or lead voice so the chromatic melodic line cuts through the ensemble without overwhelming the harmonic support underneath.
- Let the rhythm section feel the pulse without rushing; this piece lives in a controlled, deliberate space that benefits from patience.
- Shape the dynamics to reflect the song's dark character; restrain the forte passages and let silence matter as much as sound.
- Rehearse the flexible instrumentation passages early so players understand which lines they cover and can commit fully to their role.
How to use it
Consider pairing this with a concert theme exploring music from film and television, or program it as a contemporary bridge between classical and popular music in a mixed repertoire concert. It also works well mid-year when students have developed enough technical foundation to handle the Grade 2 demands confidently.
Skills your students will build
- Executing a minor key melodic line with secure intonation
- Balancing melody and harmony in flexible ensemble textures
- Reading flexible instrumentation charts and understanding harmonic function
- Sustaining controlled dynamics in slower tempos
- Interpreting articulation and phrasing in rock arrangements