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Thread: Valentine's Day Concert Solo

  1. Valentine's Day Concert Solo

    My New Horizons Band Director has asked me to come up with a solo for a Valentines day concert.
    It needs to be a "love song".
    It can't be something too classical, like Nessun dorma!.
    The more recognizable, the better.
    It needs to be published for Concert band accompaniment.
    It can be for trumpet or BC.
    It also can't be very long.
    Good luck, right?
    Last edited by John Morgan; 12-08-2019 at 10:15 PM.

  2. #2
    Arthur Pryor - Thoughts of Love
    --
    Barry

  3. #3
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    I've always liked, "Be My Love" by Brodzsky ever since I heard Riki McDonnell play that on "Euphonium Songbook". Morgan Griffiths also recorded. But... it was with brass band. Not sure if there's sheet music for concert band accomp. or not. It runs less than 4 minutes.

    Here's a link to listen to Glyn Williams playing it:
    Be My Love - Brodszky, Cahn, arr. Farr
    Rick Floyd
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    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
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  4. #4
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    Serenade from the Student Prince is a sure winner and fits all your criteria--there are several band versions available; I played it with the Indiana Wind Symphony a few years ago.
    In moments of pure snark, I played these with the Indianapolis Brass Choir over the years: Time to Say Goodbye, Don't Be That Way, and Softly As I Leave You...
    Last edited by Snorlax; 12-08-2019 at 07:36 PM.
    Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
    Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
    bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
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  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Snorlax View Post
    ...and Softly As I Leave You...
    I like the other suggestions above, but I think you might want to check the lyrics of this song before using it.

    https://genius.com/Matt-monro-softly...ave-you-lyrics
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
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  6. These are very good suggestions and great songs for solos.
    I am familiar with "Softly As I Leave You".
    Serenade from the Student Prince is a very good idea. I will work on that, but not for this concert.

    The problem is our audience.
    They are usually 60+ years old and not very familiar with anything classical.
    They are often wonderful audiences, but highbrow stuff doesn't fly well.

    The best solo would be something a little more contemporary and something they know some of the words to.
    I sang "Autumn Leaves" at one of our Jazz concerts and it was a decent hit.
    I would even play that song, IF, there was a concert band / solo arrangement available.

    I suspect that the difficulty in finding the perfect piece is why he asked me to look.

    I might be out of luck.

  7. #7
    Ok, then how about Till There Was You from the Music Man? The crowd should know it, and the band might have a Music Man arrangement with this song in it. Just have the melody instruments lay out for you and experiment with a graceful way to start and end just the one song.
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
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  8. #8
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    As I mentioned, these were moments of pure snark. ;-)

    Our quintet did a lot of parties where we were musicians
    and comedians. Wish I had recorded them. I know I did
    a couple of those with the quintet at Valentine-type events.
    Last edited by Snorlax; 12-09-2019 at 10:42 AM.
    Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
    Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
    bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
    Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
    Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
    Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
    www.soundcloud.com/jweuph

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Snorlax View Post
    As I mentioned, these were moments of pure snark. ;-)
    Ah, I read the post on my phone - I often miss things on that little critter!
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  10. That is a great idea.
    I think we do already have "The Music Man" in our library.
    Mica Calfee
    Former U. S. Army Euphonium Player
    02C. 1974-1980
    Wessex Dolce
    Denis Wick SM4X Ultra
    https://www.richardsoncommunityband.org/

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