Solamente Una Vez (arr. Juan Ortiz): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Agustin Lara / Arranged by Juan Ortiz
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK01598681
$35.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This beautiful ballad has become a Mariachi standard, and this easy version will be a welcome addition to any program. Includes new English lyrics in addition to the original Spanish version. Scored for Violins, Trumpets, Armonia, Guitarron and Vocal. Instrumentation options for Flutes, Guitar and Bass.
Solamente Una Vez (arr. Juan Ortiz): Concert Band 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-PK01598681
More about this title
About the Composer: Agustin Lara
Agustin Lara (1897–1970) was a Mexican composer and pianist whose prolific output shaped Latin American popular music for generations. He wrote over 600 compositions across multiple genres, establishing himself as a master of the romantic ballad and a key figure in the development of Mariachi repertoire.
Lara's melodic gift and harmonic sophistication made his songs accessible to everyday musicians while remaining satisfying for trained performers. His influence extends far beyond Mexico; his works have been recorded by artists across jazz, pop, and classical traditions, making him one of the most recorded Latin American composers of the twentieth century.
Why we love this
Juan Ortiz's Grade 2 arrangement strips away nothing essential from Lara's achingly beautiful melody while keeping the technical demands reasonable for developing bands. The flexibility to program either Spanish or English lyrics gives you real programming options, and the optional instrumentation (flutes, guitar, bass) means you can adapt this to whatever ensemble voices you have available without compromising the sound.
What to expect
Tenderness wraps every measure. The melody unfolds with the unhurried confidence of someone sharing a cherished memory, supported by warm harmonic colors and a gentle rhythmic sway. There's an intimacy here that invites both the ensemble and the listener into a moment of genuine reflection.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits bands building toward more sophisticated ballad work without the technical complexity of advanced repertoire. It also works beautifully for programs aiming to feature vocal soloist with concert band accompaniment or to explore Latin American musical heritage in a straightforward, approachable way.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody through the long phrases rather than punching individual notes; this ballad lives in sustained, singing lines.
- Balance the vocal part carefully so text and emotion come through without overshadowing the harmonic foundation.
- Let the Guitarron's rhythmic pulse anchor the ensemble, especially during any tempo rubato the vocalist might take.
- Highlight the lyrical moments when the trumpet or violin carries the main tune; these sections benefit from warm, connected articulation.
How to use it
Use this as a lyrical interlude in a concert otherwise focused on energetic Latin repertoire, or pair it with other Lara compositions to create a thematic program exploring Mexican songwriting traditions. It also serves well as a spring concert closer when you're aiming for a graceful, heartfelt exit.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic phrases with consistent tone and support
- Balance and blend in accompanimental writing
- Collaboration between instrumental ensemble and vocal soloist
- Expressive phrasing in ballad style without excessive tempo fluctuation
- Familiarity with Mariachi instrumentation and performance style