The Queen Of Soul (arr. Paul Murtha): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Aretha Franklin / Arranged by Paul Murtha
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00429182
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Description
As the world mourns the passing of Aretha Franklin, we celebrate the enduring legacy of her songs and persona. This powerful medley for the concert stage includes the hits "Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", and "Think".
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00429182
More about this title
About the Artist: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) earned her title as the Queen of Soul through a combination of technical mastery, emotional depth, and cultural impact that few artists have matched. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, she commanded every genre she touched: gospel, soul, R&B, pop, and jazz. Her voice possessed a four-octave range and an instinctive ability to bend and shape melody in ways that became the blueprint for soul singing itself.
For music educators, Franklin represents more than a historical figure. Her recordings teach students how to phrase across bar lines, how to honor the harmonic structure of a song while personalizing its delivery, and how to connect technical facility with authentic emotional expression. Her demand for respect, both in her lyrics and her career choices, reshaped the music industry and gives her work enduring relevance in the concert hall.
Why we love this
Murtha's arrangement captures the commanding presence Franklin brought to these iconic songs while keeping the Grade 3 difficulty honest. The medley structure lets your band tackle three contrasting hits without the repetition that might dullen younger players' focus, and the soul idiom gives every section something genuine to express rather than technical busy-work.
What to expect
Powerful and declarative. These songs demand presence and conviction; there's no hiding in a unison line or blending into the background. Your band will feel the weight of delivering something that matters, something people recognize and care about.
Who it's for
Concert bands in middle school and early high school seeking repertoire that connects to music beyond the classical tradition. This arrangement works for directors who want their students to experience authentic soul idiom without oversimplifying Aretha's artistry or asking for virtuosic precision that isn't there yet.
How to get the most out of it
- The rhythm section needs to lock in the pocket early. Franklin's songs live in the spaces between the beat, so establish your groove in sectionals before putting everything together.
- Balance the lead voice (trumpet or solo woodwind, depending on Murtha's orchestration) against the ensemble. Solo passages should sing through the texture without drowning the harmonic support underneath.
- Respect the syncopation as written rather than straightening rhythms. Soul phrasing depends on the slight push and pull against the meter; that's where the style lives.
- Address dynamics with intention. These melodies earned their power through contrast; resist the urge to play everything at one comfortable volume level.
How to use it
Place this in a concert that explores American song traditions or celebrates influential artists. It pairs well with other soul and R&B arrangements at the same level, or you can program it as a statement piece that broadens what "concert band" means at your school. The medley format makes it work as a spring concert highlight without dominating a full program.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing across bar lines and expressing lyrical intent within an instrumental context
- Reading and executing syncopated rhythms that define soul and R&B idiom
- Balancing solo lines with ensemble texture
- Responding to dynamic contrast as a tool for musical storytelling