Send In The Clowns: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Dave Barduhn's 1983 arrangement captures the wistful beauty of Sondheim's composition while keeping the demands reasonable for Grade 3 ensembles. The piano soloist sits front and center throughout, giving your group a natural focal point and a chance to accompany a featured performer; this setup creates authentic jazz energy without requiring virtuosic playing from every section. It's the kind of chart that sounds sophisticated in performance but doesn't demand weeks of intensive preparation.

Melancholy and theatrical, with moments of understated elegance. The chart creates a cabaret atmosphere; there's intimacy in the writing even when the full ensemble is playing. Sondheim's melody lingers in the ear, and Barduhn's orchestration ensures it stays front and center while allowing younger musicians to contribute meaningfully to the soundscape.

Jazz ensembles at the Grade 3 level, including middle school and less experienced high school groups. Directors seeking material that teaches jazz style and harmonic literacy without overwhelming young musicians. Teachers who want to introduce students to theatre repertoire through a jazz lens and connect them to Sondheim's compositional legacy.

• Let the piano soloist breathe independently rather than locking rigidly to the ensemble. Sondheim's melody has natural rubato, and Barduhn's arrangement preserves space for that flexibility.
• Balance the ensemble parts beneath the soloist; your job is to frame the piano, not compete with it. Soft dynamics and careful voice leading keep the focus where it belongs.
• Pay attention to the harmonic movement in the inner voices. The arrangement's sophistication lives in the supporting chords, and students who follow those lines will understand why this song endures.
• Take time in rehearsal with the piano soloist to establish how you'll handle the bridge section and any tempo variations. Communication between soloist and rhythm section matters more than mechanical precision.

This works beautifully as a late-set closer at a jazz concert, especially one focused on standards and American songbook material. It pairs naturally with other theatrical or lyrical jazz selections, offering contrast to uptempo charts and showcasing your ensemble's ability to play with restraint and sophistication. Festival and contest organizers appreciate how it demonstrates musicality and ensemble balance in a piece with genuine dramatic weight.

• Accompanying a soloist while maintaining ensemble cohesion
• Playing jazz comping rhythms with discretion and sensitivity
• Reading and performing harmonically complex chord changes
• Balancing volume and texture across multiple sections
• Understanding swing feel and jazz time in a ballad context
• Responding to a soloist's interpretive choices in real time