'Round Midnight: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

'Round Midnight: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: 'Round Midnight: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49206S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Words by Bernie Hanighen, music by Cootie Williams and Thelonious Monk / arr. Rick Hirsch

Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-49206S

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'Round Midnight arranged by Rick Hirsch is a superb chart on a wonderful jazz standard, played around 140 BPM. Typically a ballad, this treatment is a straight-eighth feel with smooth cascading lines. Written-out solos are provided for trumpet 1 and alto 1. Included are a few sax solis, beautiful harmonies, and lead trumpet range is to written G on top of the staff. Optional parts include flute, clarinet, and vibes and more. A uniquely beautiful chart! (4:25) This title available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Young Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

ISBN10: 1-4706-4718-4

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4718-6

UPC: 038081566412

SKU: 00-49206S

More about this title

About the Composer: Cootie Williams

Cootie Williams (1911-1985) was a master trumpeter and composer whose career spanned from the swing era through the 1980s. He played with Duke Ellington's orchestra, leading the plunger-mute innovations that defined Ellington's sound, and later became a bandleader and composer in his own right, contributing to both the big band and bebop vocabularies.

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Why we love this

Rick Hirsch's arrangement reimagines 'Round Midnight as a driving straight-eighth chart without losing the composition's harmonic sophistication. The written-out solos for trumpet 1 and alto 1 give your section leaders a clear framework to interpret the tune while maintaining ensemble cohesion, and the cascading sax solis and rich voicings keep every voice engaged throughout.

What to expect

The piece floats with a contemporary jazz sensibility; the straight-eighth feel creates forward momentum while smooth harmonies and written-out voicings keep the sound polished and intentional. It captures 'Round Midnight's harmonic depth but trades melancholy for groove.

Who it's for

This chart works well for high school and college jazz ensembles at the intermediate level. Directors seeking a medium-easy arrangement that doesn't sacrifice harmonic interest or solo opportunities will find this especially useful.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a solid straight-eighth groove at 140 BPM early in rehearsal. The tempo marking differs significantly from the tune's traditional ballad treatment, so lock the rhythm section's feel before addressing melodic lines.
Balance the written trumpet 1 and alto 1 solos carefully. These lines sit at the front of the arrangement, but they should breathe within the ensemble texture rather than dominate it.
Shape the cascading sax lines with clear dynamic contours. Hirsch's writing stacks these phrases at different harmonic levels; treat each layer as part of a single architectural gesture.
Pay attention to the lead trumpet range. Written G on top of the staff demands precision and stamina; schedule rehearsal time for your lead player to build endurance without strain.

How to use it

This arrangement fits naturally into a concert that mixes classic jazz standards with contemporary ensemble writing. Its four-and-a-half minute length and moderate difficulty make it an ideal second or third tune in a set, giving your ensemble a chance to showcase both solo voices and tight section work after warming up.