Work Song: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Charles Mingus / Arranged by Sy Johnson
Grade: 5
Item: 35-PK00139189
$60.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Work Song - Full Score | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Soprano Sax | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Alto Sax | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Work Song - Drums | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Written in a medium-tempo, swing style, the saxes take the lead in the beginning answered by screaming brass figures. Soprano sax and a solo trombone engage in an ongoing bluesy dialogue interspersed with swingin' passages for the entire band. All masterfully arranged by Sy Johnson.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00139189
More about this title
About the Composer: Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus stands as one of jazz's most influential composers and bandleaders, reshaping the language of big band writing through his fearless harmonic choices and compositional density. His works demand ensemble maturity and interpretive sophistication; they reward musicians who engage deeply with jazz idiom and aren't content with surface-level swing.
Why we love this
Sy Johnson's arrangement preserves the grit and conversational energy of Mingus's original while making it accessible to high school ensembles without sacrificing jazz authenticity. The soprano and trombone dialogue gives soloists genuine musical responsibility, not just display passages, and the full-band swing sections let everyone feel the pocket together.
What to expect
Bluesy and conversational, with the brightness of soprano sax cutting through warm brass answering. The piece swings hard yet invites intimate dialogue between voices, moving between full-band momentum and the kind of call-and-response storytelling that sits at jazz's heart.
Who it's for
Advanced high school jazz ensembles ready to tackle authentic Mingus repertoire and soloists comfortable mining bluesy language for depth. This works best for programs that have already built a foundation in swing feel and want to deepen their connection to modern jazz composition.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the soprano and trombone into the bluesy dialogue passages by isolating those voices in rehearsal first; the interplay only breathes when both soloists commit to listening and responding rather than simply executing their written notes.
- Let the opening sax section establish the swing feel completely before the brass figures cut in; if the saxes rush or tighten, the brass punctuations will land behind and muddy the groove.
- Balance the screaming brass figures so they answer rather than overpower the sax lead; use dynamic rehearsal marks to clarify that those stabs are punctuation, not the main line.
- Emphasize the bluesy inflections and ghost notes in both the soprano and trombone lines; the written notation only hints at the phrasing that makes Mingus's language sing.
How to use it
Include this on a concert celebrating big band composers, or pair it with other Mingus works to build a thematic set around compositional voice and ensemble conversation. It also serves well as a capstone for a unit on jazz arranging, where students can analyze how Johnson adapted Mingus's concepts for a school ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Swing feel and groove pocket
- Bluesy phrasing and jazz articulation
- Soloist-to-ensemble listening and responsiveness
- Ensemble balance with featured solo voices
- Reading and interpreting jazz notation with ghost notes and inflections