So Very Hard To Go: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Roger Holmes's arrangement preserves the lyrical beauty of the original while keeping the part writing accessible for Grade 3 ensembles. The horn lines sit naturally for high school players, and the rock ballad setting gives your group a sophisticated sound without requiring advanced technique.

Smooth, soulful, and instantly groovy. The moderate tempo and warm horn voicings create a laid-back sophistication that audiences respond to immediately, while the underlying funk energy keeps players engaged throughout.

High school jazz ensembles seeking a contemporary standard that connects students to real funk and R&B history. This chart works equally well for programs developing their repertoire and for groups looking to add a recognizable hit to a spring concert.

• Balance the melodic content between sections. The trumpet and trombone lines need space to sing, so guide your saxes to support rather than drive.
• Shape the phrases with the original recording in mind. Listen to Tower of Power's version to capture the vocal quality Castillo embedded in each horn line.
• Let the rhythm section breathe on the slower tempo. A moderate rock ballad lives or dies by the groove's pocket, not by rushing.

Schedule this alongside other soul and funk classics to build a concert set with contemporary appeal. It's substantial enough for a spring jazz concert feature but short enough to pair with additional titles in a longer program.

• Reading and performing in a funk/R&B harmonic language
• Balancing melodic phrasing across multiple horn sections
• Locking into a steady groove at moderate tempo
• Understanding call-and-response patterns in horn arranging