Original Compositions and Arrangements for Concert Band
Auric Fanfare (2:00) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 15.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this as a concert opener and in celebration of my parents' 50th anniversary. It's a short grade 3 piece playable by a wide variety of groups, from advanced middle school bands through high school groups. It has parts for 7 percussionists! The timpani part is the only one that is more difficult: it requires four drums and some pitch changes. It could be played on a synth if necessary, but if you do, you should eliminate the rolls. The piece also uses synth harp and synth bass as in the pieces of Stephen Melillo. While they are not required they enhance the piece significantly. Check out the pdf of the score below!
non-printing score (pdf) | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
Overture to "Rienzi" ( 7:40) composed by Richard Wagner, arranged by Jeff Waggoner
$ 30.00/score and parts as pdf
I originally wrote this arrangement in the early 1980s and then extensively revised it a couple of years ago. It's very playable. It's about a grade 3.5 in my estimation. The trumpet parts are a little high but the other parts are reasonable. No unusual percussion requirements. This is a lesser-known Wagner overture that deserves to be heard more often!
non-printing score | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
DRIVE! (3:40) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
What's the single most important event in a high school student's life? Graduation? No. Senior prom? Hardly. It's that day when he or she gets a driver's license! This piece celebrates that day and the excitement and joy of the freedom of driving. It's a grade 3 with parts for nine percussionists, although it can be performed with six. My band enjoyed this piece and completely understood what is was about, and so will yours!
non-printing score | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
Fanfare Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (4:30) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 25.00/score and parts as pdf
This piece was written somewhat in the style of the Fanfare Preludes James Curnow crafted over the years. It's a grade 3 piece with nine percussion parts, including a synth bass part. I wrote it in memory of my maternal grandparents, who were very influential in my life and strong members of the Lutheran Church. The piece moves through several styles and moods and requires some independent playing in most sections - I think you and your band members will enjoy it!
non-printing score
$ 15.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this as a concert opener and in celebration of my parents' 50th anniversary. It's a short grade 3 piece playable by a wide variety of groups, from advanced middle school bands through high school groups. It has parts for 7 percussionists! The timpani part is the only one that is more difficult: it requires four drums and some pitch changes. It could be played on a synth if necessary, but if you do, you should eliminate the rolls. The piece also uses synth harp and synth bass as in the pieces of Stephen Melillo. While they are not required they enhance the piece significantly. Check out the pdf of the score below!
non-printing score (pdf) | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
Overture to "Rienzi" ( 7:40) composed by Richard Wagner, arranged by Jeff Waggoner
$ 30.00/score and parts as pdf
I originally wrote this arrangement in the early 1980s and then extensively revised it a couple of years ago. It's very playable. It's about a grade 3.5 in my estimation. The trumpet parts are a little high but the other parts are reasonable. No unusual percussion requirements. This is a lesser-known Wagner overture that deserves to be heard more often!
non-printing score | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
DRIVE! (3:40) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
What's the single most important event in a high school student's life? Graduation? No. Senior prom? Hardly. It's that day when he or she gets a driver's license! This piece celebrates that day and the excitement and joy of the freedom of driving. It's a grade 3 with parts for nine percussionists, although it can be performed with six. My band enjoyed this piece and completely understood what is was about, and so will yours!
non-printing score | midi rendering excerpts (mp3)
Fanfare Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (4:30) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 25.00/score and parts as pdf
This piece was written somewhat in the style of the Fanfare Preludes James Curnow crafted over the years. It's a grade 3 piece with nine percussion parts, including a synth bass part. I wrote it in memory of my maternal grandparents, who were very influential in my life and strong members of the Lutheran Church. The piece moves through several styles and moods and requires some independent playing in most sections - I think you and your band members will enjoy it!
non-printing score
Compositions for Jazz Ensemble
Blues in Cat Minor (3:30, grade 3) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this one in the summer of 2007 for one of my own jazz ensembles. It's a C minor blues that helps kids learn how to solo without too much danger of playing a wrong note! It includes solo changes and sample solos for all instruments, and also includes written-out one-chorus solos for tenor saxophone and piano. It's designed to help kids hear minor ninth chords. You can practice soloing along with Track 11 on Jamey Aebersold's Volume 2 Play-a-long, "Nothin' But Blues" - it uses the same changes.
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
You're Not All That (4:30, grade 4) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this bebop tune in 2008 as audition material for my lower two jazz ensembles. In the tradition of the great bebop masters, it's written on the chord changes of a classic tune. I decided I should expand it to a full ensemble arrangement. We played it in April of 2009 with my top band. Solos are for lead alto and for trombone 1, with suggested solos written out, and the trumpet parts aren't high or hard - but there is a full-chorus sax soli that will take a little work. There is also a low-voices ensemble soli that is somewhat challenging...finally, a melodic line for your bass player and trombones!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
El Gatito Agraciado (The Graceful Kitten) (4:10, grade 2) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this one in August 2009. It's a latin tune in the style of the "Chili Pepper" tunes Doug Beach has made famous. It's only a grade 2, with reasonable ranges and limited technical demands. It can be played by three saxes, two trumpets, two trombones (or one trombone and an additional tenor sax), and three rhythm. Solo changes are available for everyone and soloists only need to know an F minor scale! My freshman band played this in November 2009!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
Funky Paws (4:00, grade 3) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I started out writing this as a funk tune, but it ended up having a double-time bebop-flavored blues section as well! All the funk lines are written out for the rhythm section so they can see exactly what to play. Have them listen to the recording of the Sibelius rendering - every note is right there.The solo section is straight-ahead blues changes in B flat. This one was great fun for my drummer, who had to be restrained a bit! We played this with my middle band in February 2010.
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
For Emily (5:00, grade 3/4) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this for my last concert at my high school, when I retired in 2011. I pulled rank and played the flugelhorn solo part, and I had a great tenor player that year, so I wrote a second solo section for him. Those two solo feature instruments could be changed, of course. It's a ballad with a double-time swing section in the middle for improvisation. The tune is really only about a Grade 3, with no high brass demands, but the solo parts are a bit more than a Grade 4 because of the chord changes. They don't go by too fast so a high school player could solo on this tune - check out the sample score to see how. It's dedicated to the older of my two granddaughters, Emily. She was at the performance, of course!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this one in the summer of 2007 for one of my own jazz ensembles. It's a C minor blues that helps kids learn how to solo without too much danger of playing a wrong note! It includes solo changes and sample solos for all instruments, and also includes written-out one-chorus solos for tenor saxophone and piano. It's designed to help kids hear minor ninth chords. You can practice soloing along with Track 11 on Jamey Aebersold's Volume 2 Play-a-long, "Nothin' But Blues" - it uses the same changes.
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
You're Not All That (4:30, grade 4) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this bebop tune in 2008 as audition material for my lower two jazz ensembles. In the tradition of the great bebop masters, it's written on the chord changes of a classic tune. I decided I should expand it to a full ensemble arrangement. We played it in April of 2009 with my top band. Solos are for lead alto and for trombone 1, with suggested solos written out, and the trumpet parts aren't high or hard - but there is a full-chorus sax soli that will take a little work. There is also a low-voices ensemble soli that is somewhat challenging...finally, a melodic line for your bass player and trombones!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
El Gatito Agraciado (The Graceful Kitten) (4:10, grade 2) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this one in August 2009. It's a latin tune in the style of the "Chili Pepper" tunes Doug Beach has made famous. It's only a grade 2, with reasonable ranges and limited technical demands. It can be played by three saxes, two trumpets, two trombones (or one trombone and an additional tenor sax), and three rhythm. Solo changes are available for everyone and soloists only need to know an F minor scale! My freshman band played this in November 2009!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
Funky Paws (4:00, grade 3) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I started out writing this as a funk tune, but it ended up having a double-time bebop-flavored blues section as well! All the funk lines are written out for the rhythm section so they can see exactly what to play. Have them listen to the recording of the Sibelius rendering - every note is right there.The solo section is straight-ahead blues changes in B flat. This one was great fun for my drummer, who had to be restrained a bit! We played this with my middle band in February 2010.
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)
For Emily (5:00, grade 3/4) by Jeff Waggoner
$ 20.00/score and parts as pdf
I wrote this for my last concert at my high school, when I retired in 2011. I pulled rank and played the flugelhorn solo part, and I had a great tenor player that year, so I wrote a second solo section for him. Those two solo feature instruments could be changed, of course. It's a ballad with a double-time swing section in the middle for improvisation. The tune is really only about a Grade 3, with no high brass demands, but the solo parts are a bit more than a Grade 4 because of the chord changes. They don't go by too fast so a high school player could solo on this tune - check out the sample score to see how. It's dedicated to the older of my two granddaughters, Emily. She was at the performance, of course!
non-printing score | live performance excerpt (mp3)