Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Paraphrase for Solo Trombone and Band Cover Image

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Paraphrase for Solo Trombone and Band: Concert Band, Solo Brass with Ensemble, Conductor Score & Parts

$40.00 USD

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Paraphrase for Solo Trombone and Band: Concert Band, Solo Brass with Ensemble, Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Paraphrase for Solo Trombone and Band: Concert Band, Solo Brass with Ensemble, Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-B374602
Price: 40.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Traditional/ Folk, ed./arr. by John J. Morrissey

Grade: 3

Item: 36-B374602

$40.00

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American composer and band director John Joseph Morrissey (1906-1993) served as an officer in the music branch of the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II before beginning a long career as head of the music department and band director at Tulane University in New Orleans. He wrote numerous original works in the popular style in addition to many arrangements he made for band. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT was one such arrangement, written for solo trombone with band accompaniment. While the solo is fully-written out, the well-known spiritual is very much set in the jazz style, with the accompaniment approached much as other jazz-style large ensemble works from the 1940s.

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Series: Master Band Series - LudwigMasters

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 659359723599

SKU: 36-B374602

Instrumentation: Solo Trombone and Concert Band

More about this title

About the Arranger: John J. Morrissey

John Joseph Morrissey (1906-1993) was an American composer and band director who shaped the musical life of New Orleans for decades. After serving as an officer in the music branch of the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II, he established himself as the head of the music department and band director at Tulane University, where he built a significant program and mentored generations of musicians.

Morrissey composed original works across many styles and produced a substantial catalog of arrangements for concert band. His arrangements reflect the jazz idioms and popular styles that defined mid-twentieth-century American band music, grounded in practical musicianship and an understanding of what works in the rehearsal room and on stage.

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Why we love this

This arrangement puts a solo trombonist front and center in a piece that feels both familiar and fresh. Morrissey's approach to jazz voicing and style brings authentic swing character to the spiritual, making it an engaging showcase that rewards strong ensemble balance and rhythmic precision from your full band.

What to expect

Warm, soulful, and distinctly American. The spiritual's melody carries its own dignity while the jazz accompaniment swings gently underneath, creating an arrangement that honors both the sacred roots of the tune and the vernacular music of the era in which Morrissey wrote it. There's an ease and naturalness to the sound that invites audiences in.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level with a confident solo trombonist and a section that can navigate jazz idioms with ease. Directors seeking a showcase piece that combines a beloved American spiritual with authentic jazz orchestration will find real value here.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a steady groove with the rhythm section and backline before bringing in the full ensemble; the solo trombone will sit naturally once the jazz feel is locked.
Shape the solo line with rubato and swing phrasing; even though it's written out, allow the trombonist room to breathe and bend notes in character with the spiritual's emotional arc.
Balance the solo carefully against the ensemble so that the accompaniment supports rather than masks the trombone's narrative.
Let the band feel the jazz articulation and syncopation in the parts; it's not a march, and precision in the swing style matters as much as technical cleanliness.

How to use it

Program this in a set celebrating American musical traditions, or use it as a tribute concert piece that pairs well with other spirituals or jazz-influenced works. It's the kind of selection that works beautifully as a second-half opener, offering contrast while maintaining sophistication and audience connection.