The Herald Angels Swing: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Traditional / arr. Mike Story
Grade: 1 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0006372
$42.00
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Description
Composer/arranger Mike Story is one of the best at writing great charts for young players. This chart is based on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" arranged as a swing song. Features include a trumpet solo with a written solo; easy rhythms; ranges; and textures---all with a full sound. This chart will come together real quick, plus, it includes all the usual optional parts. Makes for a perfect holiday chart. (2:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Herald Angels Swing: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
42
SKU:
00-PK-0006372
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mike Story
Mike Story has built a reputation for writing jazz charts that sound sophisticated while remaining accessible to developing ensembles. His work across multiple levels demonstrates a deep understanding of what young players can achieve when given clear, playable material and compelling arrangements.
Why we love this
Story knows how to give a young jazz ensemble immediate gratification. The trumpet solo comes written out, rhythms stay straightforward, and the full sound arrives without requiring advanced section balance or complex articulation work. Your players will feel like they're swinging from the first rehearsal.
What to expect
A familiar hymn reimagined with energy and swing groove. The arrangement maintains the melody's dignity while letting the ensemble breathe in a relaxed, easy swing feel. You hear the history of the carol held lightly within a contemporary jazz vocabulary.
Who it's for
Young jazz ensemble programs looking for a Christmas concert piece that doesn't require advanced swing mechanics or complicated rhythmic reading. Conductors new to jazz literature will find this chart straightforward to teach and rewarding to perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the trumpet solo against the rhythm section by keeping the ensemble parts in the background; the soloist should project over the band without the band pushing back dynamically.
- Lock the rhythm section feel around the swing eighth-note style; mark a target tempo in rehearsal and have the drummer and bassist dial in that groove before moving to full ensemble.
- Shape the dynamic arc through the swing arrangement to build energy; even a Grade 1 chart benefits from restraint in early sections and a controlled swell into the final statements.
- Highlight the familiar hymn melody at key moments so the audience recognizes the tune beneath the swing treatment; this context helps listeners appreciate the arrangement's cleverness.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a highlight in a holiday concert, offering a bridge between traditional choral music and modern jazz. Its length (2:30) fits well in a mixed repertoire program and provides welcome variety when programmed alongside straight-ahead swing charts or contemporary jazz pieces.
Skills your students will build
- Swing eighth-note feel and basic jazz articulation
- Reading and responding to lead trumpet lines
- Balancing solo voices against ensemble accompaniment
- Connecting jazz interpretation to familiar melodic material