High quality quartet charts

[hyperbolica]

Today my quartet performed a 1 hour program for a very appreciative audience. We've significantly stepped up our game in the last year, with a couple new members and a bunch of more sophisticated charts. We've been together for 10 years and are just starting to crack the code on getting great charts.

I've been all through Musescore to mine from it what's there, I've arranged and recombined dozens of charts with varying success. I've worked through most of the free sources of tunes. We've bought probably a dozen Elkjer booklets, which turn out to be pretty hit and miss. But with music, it seems you have to know exactly what you are looking for to stand any chance of getting something good. It's rare that I just happen on a random chart that we like and can perform.

Now that I've found a few really high quality arrangements, I know they are out there, and I want more. Im hoping that if I put out a few chart names, others will too. You can't just order something at random from Hickey's and expect to get something wonderful.

Some of the great quality quartet charts we've come across -

Stardust (arr Robert Hughes)
Georgia On My Mind (arr Ingo Luis)
Somewhere over the rainbow (Elkjer)
Birdland (Xavier Mejia)
Hey Jude (Ingo Luis)
Come thou fount of every blessing (arr Stephen Wilson)
On a Hymnsong by Philip Bliss (arr David Holsinger)
Girl with the flaxen hair (arr Michael Lavine for Four Of A Kind)

We're looking for more tunes of this quality level (and where to buy the charts if possible). I know there have been other inquiries, but I'm thinking revisiting this topic now and then will shake loose more hidden gems.

[PhilTrombone]

Always fun, always an audience hit ( I prefer a quicker tempo, though)

[PhilTrombone]

[hyperbolica]

Thanks! We have both of those. Achieved is #001 in our books, and yes, it should be faster, but nice job on that.

[AndrewMeronek]

I've played most of those over the years. Yes, those are great.



Anything by Tommy Pederson will be good.

[Richard3rd]

Ever since I heard Maniacal4 do their versions of pop songs, I wanted to do something similar. I think there's a market for that. Like you I searched for arrangements but could never come up with enough quality charts to fill out a two hour gig. I use Sibelius and can pretty much adapt anything but there still has to be some level of quality to work with. Good luck.

[hyperbolica]

I've played most of those over the years. Yes, those are great.



Anything by Tommy Pederson will be good.

I've got some bone quintet stuff, but no Pederson quartets.
South of the Border Suite sounds like fun.
The Nibbler - short and sweet
Nabob's Knuckle? mmmm not sure this one will make the list. Can't find a recording of it, but looks a bit out there.

[hyperbolica]

Ever since I heard Maniacal4 do their versions of pop songs, I wanted to do something similar. I think there's a market for that. Like you I searched for arrangements but could never come up with enough quality charts to fill out a two hour gig. I use Sibelius and can pretty much adapt anything but there still has to be some level of quality to work with. Good luck.

Finding and rehearsing with a rhythm section would be a much bigger commitment than I'm willing to take on. In this area we have two bone quintets that use a rhythm section, and one of them is a national act. Not sure I want to compete at that level right now. But yeah, I get where you're coming from. Sometimes just a drummer would help.

[EriKon]

A lot of that Ingo Luis stuff is quite nice. On a more classical side, but I'm a huge fan of Debussys's Trois Chansons adapted for trombone quartet. There's a wonderful recording with Alessi out there. Let me check, if I can find it...

[hyperbolica]

We've got 2 better known Debussy tunes, not the one you mention. We have Girl With the Flaxen Hair and Clair de Lune, with the Flaxen Hair is the better arrangement.

[FranzS]

I use:

Just a closer walk Richard Roblee
Scarborough Fair Bill Reichenbach
Gospel Time Jeffrey Agrell
Mr. Sandman published by Johann Doms
Tuxedo Junction Ingo Luis
Trombania Suite Bob Curnow
Round midnight Slide Hampton

There are many Arrangements from Jack Gale like
That‘s a plenty
O when the saints
Jada
Harlem Express

[hyperbolica]

@franzs

Thanks, nice list. I have a few, maybe half. I'll definitely look for more Ingo Luis, Jack Gale and Slide Hampton. That will fit into our sets nicely.

[hyperbolica]

Just came across a couple more. Ingo Luis is a never ending source of great arrangements. Take Five and Tuxedo Junction:

[Cmillar]

You'll find a great variety of music at Cherry Music Classics:

https://cherryclassics.com/

[hyperbolica]

You'll find a great variety of music at Cherry Music Classics:

https://cherryclassics.com/

I looked through these, and there are a lot of dusty old classical things. Some are nice because they have soundcloud recordings linked. I think I might pick up a few charts off of this site, though. Thanks!

[dukesboneman]

Myths and Legends - Eric Ewazen - Is a challenging but really rewarding piece to play , well written. 4 mvts
Tokyo Triptych - Phillip Sparke - Really a fun piece and again extremely well written. 3 mvts

[hyperbolica]

Myths and Legends - Eric Ewazen - Is a challenging but really rewarding piece to play , well written. 4 mvts
Tokyo Triptych - Phillip Sparke - Really a fun piece and again extremely well written. 3 mvts

Cool, thanks!

I ordered Tuxedo Junction, Take 5 and Tico Tico (all I think by Ingo Luis) from Sheet Music Plus. It's taking a month to get to me hard copies, and that's all they offer for these titles. They actually print music still!

[hyperbolica]

Hmm, well we had a curmudgeon rebel on the Tuxedo Junction because there were too many key changes.... We'll play it again next week after he has forgotten about this incident...

Another composer who has done a lot of tbone quartets is Dennis Armitage. Go to Sheet Music Plus and search that name. There are some playable grade 4 options, including wedding and birthday music.Plus, we already have Bless My Bones, a swing chart, along with an arrangement of Gershwin tunes called Portrait. Very nicely done.