Prelude to a Kiss: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Dave Wolpe's arrangement captures the lyrical elegance of this Ellington melody while giving your baritone saxophonist a genuine feature that feels both soloistic and ensemble-supportive. The ballad-to-double-time arc provides real musical substance without requiring improvisation, so your bari player can focus on phrasing and tone production. It's the kind of chart that feels substantial in any setting, from concert hall to informal dance gig.

Beautiful and unhurried, with the kind of velvet sonority Ellington favored in his ballads. When the double-time section hits, the energy lifts without losing the lush harmonic language that makes this melody so distinctive.

Directors with a baritone saxophonist who has solid tone production and the musicality to carry a ballad feature. It works for Grade 4.5 ensembles that can navigate the harmonic density and swing feel without sounding stiff.

• Build space and resonance around the bari's ballad section; this melody deserves air and doesn't need aggressive comping underneath
• Mark the transition into double-time clearly so rhythm section players lock in without rushing the tempo shift
• Have your baritone mark breathing points in advance to sustain long phrases without sounding strained
• Balance dynamic contrast between the lush ballad sections and the swingin' counterpoint so the double-time section lands as genuine relief

Pair this with uptempo swingers to showcase your ensemble's range across a concert; the ballad feature gives you a moment of genuine elegance between harder-driving charts. It also translates well to informal settings and community gigs where the melody's accessibility serves you as well as the musicianship on display.

• Ballad phrasing and sustain on wind instruments
• Reading and executing tempo changes within a single chart
• Laying back harmonically without losing ensemble cohesion
• Swing feel at two different tempos in the same piece
• Solo feature playing with thematic material rather than improvisation