We recently added another 20 new ensemble titles to the growing collection of SmartMusic repertoire. Among the pieces for Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra and Full Orchestra included in this batch are:
Nautical Bits and Pieces
As the title suggests, “Nautical Bits & Pieces” contains short excerpts from eight well-known sea and river songs. Included are “Blow the Man Down,” “Spanish Ladies,” “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” “Song of the Volga Boatmen,” “Sloop John B,” “Blow Ye Winds,” “Haul Away Joe,” and “Anchors Aweigh.”
Take the “A” Train
Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967), an American composer, pianist, and arranger, composed “Take the ‘A’ Train” in 1939. Duke Ellington had offered Strayhorn a job in his orchestra and gave him money to travel from Pittsburgh to New York City. Ellington wrote directions for Strayhorn to get to his house by subway. The note started, “Take the ‘A’ train…” and Strayhorn used it as the title for his composition which was to become the theme song of Duke Ellington and his orchestra, one of their biggest hits, and one of the masterpieces of jazz repertoire.
Here is the complete list:
| Title | Comp/Arr | Publisher | Music Type | Pepper Level |
| Nautical Bits & Pieces (Based on Favorite Sea and River Songs) | Story, Michael | Alfred | Concert Band | VE |
| Rolling Thunder (March) | Filmore, Henry arr. by Foster, Robert | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | M |
| Daedalus’ Labyrinth | O’Loughlin, Sean | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | ME |
| Whitewater Run | Kiefer, Ed | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | E |
| Unleashed | Terry, Petter | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | E |
| Military Escort (March) | Bennet, Harold arr. by Clark, Larry | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | E |
| Blue Orchid, The | Owens, William | TRN | Concert Band | E |
| Groove Machine | Navarre, Rand | Northeastern Music | Concert Band | B |
| Sideways Walking Dog | Smith, Zachary | Belwin | Jazz Ensemble | E |
| There is No Greater Love | Jones, Isham arr. by Richards, Eric | Belwin | Jazz Ensemble | A |
| Star Eyes | DePaul, Gene; Wolpe, Dave; Raye, Don | Belwin | Jazz Ensemble | M |
| Rockin’ Merry Christmas, A | Neeck, Larry | C.L. Barnhouse | Jazz Ensemble | E |
| Rush Hour | Niehaus, Lennie | Kendor | Jazz Ensemble | M |
| Take the “A” Train | Strayhorn, Billy arr. by Lopez, Victor | Belwin | Jazz Ensemble | ME |
| Andante from Trio Sonata Op. 5, No. 1 | Handel arr. by Sieving, Robert | Highland/Etling | String Orchestra | M |
| Phantom’s Escape | O’Loughlin, Sean | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | M |
| Slavic Celebration | Calhoun, Bill | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | E |
| Country Song (Two Songs Without Words, Op. 22, No. 1) | Holst, Gustav arr. by Sieving, Robert | Highland/Etling | String Orchestra | MA |
| Grave and Allegro | Telemann, Georg arr. by McCashin, Robert | FJH | String Orchestra | M |
| Last Chorale, The (Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit) BMV 668 | Bach, JS arr. by Lipton, Bob | FJH | String Orchestra | M |
You can request a piece for a future SmartMusic release here.