TITLE: TONY'S BOUNCE
COMPOSER: Brad Schoener
PUBLISHER: Schoener Custom Music
LENGTH: 2:33
GRADE LEVEL: Easy
This is a swing piece suggestive of the 1940s big band style.
The tempo is bright at a quarter note =160 throughout, and the arrangement
is in the key of F major.
The ending riff is reminiscent of "Woodchopper's Ball."
There are written out parts for "comping" piano, walking bass,
and drum kit. The relative difficulty of the walking bass part would raise
this piece easily to an easy-medium level. The bass part is doubled in the
written out piano part.
The arrangement opens with short chord-hits by the ensemble
while the high hat swings actively in four. A three bar drum solo leads us
to letter A.
Letter A introduces a two eighth note figure stated by the
brass, oboe, and clarinets, answered by a figure stated by the saxes and
flutes.
Letter B has a written out solos for tenor sax or flute.
Letter C, is a repeat of letter A.
Optional 16-measure solos begin at letter D, followed by eight
measures of solos with a sparse band background. These solos may be played
with any combination of instruments.
Letter G is a repeat of letter A.
Syncopations characteristic of the big-band era are used
throughout the piece. The syncopated rhythms elevate the arrangement from
easy to medium.
Instrument ranges are comfortable for all players, but the use
of tied notes, eighth note triplets, and chromatics will challenge your
players.
A typical big band riff occurs at letter H using ties that are
written across the bar line. The first statement at letter H, the band is
instructed to play the riff at a pp level. On the repeat at an ff level.
This dramatic contrast in dynamics will no doubt please the audience.
The ending contains two short solo passages cued for two or more
instruments, and the ending closes with a loud tutti chord, although no
dynamic marking is given.
I recommend this as a "fun" piece that will introduce the big
band swing feel to your students.
Vince Corozine Music , Author of "Arranging Music for the Real World" by Mel
Bay Publications
Web: www.vincecorozine.com
e-mail: vince@vincecorozine.com
(845) 208-3381
10 Veschi Lane North
Mahopac, NY 10541