Star Dust: Concert Band Conductor Score

Warren Barker's arrangement captures everything that makes Carmichael's melody timeless while giving your concert band real musical work to do. The flexibility to feature a vocalist or instrumentalist soloist transforms a standard into an event, and the lush harmonic setting lifts the ensemble beyond typical pops fare without demanding advanced technique.

Dreamy and sophisticated, with the kind of warm, nostalgic quality that great American songs carry. The harmony shimmers beneath the melody, evoking a slow dance under soft light, and the arrangement invites both ensemble and soloist into a conversation that feels natural and unhurried.

Concert bands at the intermediate level who want to program a recognizable, engaging piece without oversimplifying the arrangement. This works for groups seeking accessible vocal or instrumental features that still offer musical substance to the ensemble.

• Balance the solo line so it sings over the ensemble without the band pushing dynamics. The charm of this arrangement relies on the soloist being heard clearly in every phrase.
• Shape the ensemble chords to support the lyrical contour of the melody. Think of your band as providing a musical cushion that breathes with the soloist.
• If using an instrumental soloist, encourage them to approach the melody with vocal phrasing rather than instrumental articulation. The piece is written for singers first, and that character should remain.
• Rehearse the band with a recorded version or your own demo so players understand the swing and rubato inherent in the jazz-influenced harmony.

Place this as a feature within a concert program that mixes standards with original band compositions. It works beautifully as a second-half opener, giving the audience a moment of recognition before moving into more ambitious works, and it's especially effective when you can showcase a strong soloist from your student body or guest performer.

• Playing with flexibility and rubato within a jazz-influenced harmonic context
• Balancing dynamic support around a featured soloist
• Interpreting swing feel and jazz articulation in a concert setting
• Responding to a vocalist's or instrumentalist's phrasing while maintaining ensemble cohesion