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Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:36 pm
by dzavracky
I have to write/arrange a song for a big band this semester and have decided to do a 20's tune. I am deciding between Me and my shadow (I love the Phil Ohman version) and Building a nest for Mary (The captivators). At the end of this semester I will bring the arrangement to the UT big band and we will get to play it. I will do my best to get a good recording of it, and will hopefully post it here when it is all finished.
so anyways, which tune would you pick?
Cheers,
David
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 3:29 pm
by VanEpsFan1914
Part of the fun of '20s foxtrot lyrics is the eternal optimism, and "Building a Nest for Mary" looks forward to settling down and having a beautiful sufficiency to live a normal life with a family. It's a fun example of mutual hope and happiness--and focuses on a happy life for the narrator and the bride-to-be as well as, presumably, children.
"Me and My Shadow" is about the self; "Building a Nest" about a happy family life. "Shadow" is fun and whimsical, of course, but if you're doing a '20s arrangement for people who are in their twenties, not the 1920s, you might not want to miss a chance to impart a dose of that prosperity-for-everyone, good-times-just-round-the-corner feeling.
Or you could do a medley and play the first bit as some of "Me & My Shadow," then write a bit where the guy basically proposes--move on up into the next song. But I am not a musician.
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 3:49 pm
by dzavracky
I am definitely leaning towards Building a nest. I think I will sit down now and transcribe the chords.
If anyone wants a copy of them let me know!
David
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:23 am
by gunnarthefeisty
will you post the sheet music here? I would LOVE to get my HS jazz band to play either pieces!
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:09 pm
by dzavracky
I might. I is going to take awhile to write down/ arrange though.
David
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:51 pm
by Marc Hildebrant
From my Podcasts, the most downloaded one is # 21 , an Earl Oliver song about Chick, Chick, Chicken.
For me, the classic 1920's song is "The Charleston" ( number # 42 on
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1449838/)
Marc
Re: Which song should I arrange for my jazz arranging class?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:54 am
by dzavracky
Here are the chords for each song
David
EDIT: I should specify a few things about that picture. Each chord between the | | is 4 beats long (if there’s two they’re each two beats). The % symbols simply means to repeat the previous chord. The triangle specifies a major chord (without the 7th added. It’s just a major triad). The F# chord is a diminished 7 chord (F# A C Eb)
The form repeats when you get the the last bar of the 4th line