Sleepy Creek Samba (6-Horn Jazz Ensemble)
Roger M. Aldridge
About this work:
Sleepy Creek Samba (named for Sleepy Creek Mountain in Morgan County, West Virginia) is a bright and happy piece written for friends in Berkeley Springs and dedicated to the Morgan Arts Council.
This samba has an unusual structure. The theme is 18 bars. Importantly, the last 2 bars are intended to sound unresolved, with the ascending major 7th chords, and be a springboard for the soloist. Solos are based on this 18-bar form. After the solos and an ensemble soli (note its use of space), a second theme emerges. This theme has a 12-bar form, with two 6-bar phrases. It merges into 16 bars of the first theme. Finally, a short tag ending takes the tune out.
The mid-size ensemble score is for soloist, 5 horns, and rhythm section. The score uses flexible instrumentation. This enables the music to be played by many combinations of instruments. My article on mid-size ensemble describes the concepts I used in this piece.
Recorded by David Arivett.
This piece can be purchased at Sheet Music Plus.
Year composed: 2011
Duration: 00:00:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Alto Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 English Horn, 1 Clarinet, 1 Alto Clarinet, 1 Bass Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Soprano Saxophone, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 1 Horn in F, 1 Trumpet, 1 Flugelhorn, 1 Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Euphonium/Tenor Tuba, 1 Drum Set, 1 Piano, 1 Electric Bass, 1 Electric Guitar