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Music book review/recommendation - ‘By Special Arrangement’

Chris98

Well-Known Member
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I've been really enjoying a series of music books by Warner Bros, there are three in total:

Movie Songs By Special Arrangement: Tenor Alto
Gershwin By Special Arrangement: Tenor Alto
Broadway By Special Arrangement: Tenor Alto

As well as being available for alto and tenor sax you can also get them for; clarinet, flute, piano, trumpet, trombone etc, I’ve got the alto versions of ‘Movie Songs’ & ‘Gershwin’ and the tenor version of ‘Gershwin’. I can’t comment on the ‘Broadway’ as I’ve yet to get it but on the strength of the other two I will.

3 example of the sheet music: ‘Gershwin By Special Arrangement’, this is from the tenor version.

3 example of the sheet music: ‘Movie Songs By Special Arrangement’, this is from the alto version.

Based on my experience of the alto and tenor versions of the ‘Gershwin' book the backing tracks, which are really good and none synthetic, are the same and the notation is transposed according to the instrument.

The book description says, “Jazz-Style arrangements with a variation” and I’d say they are more musically engaging than many of the ‘Guest Spot’ books I’ve tried. I would certainly recommend them to anyone who likes this sort of music and likes to play a long to a good backing track. I’ve found them to be challenging, but in a good way. Some tunes I have yet to be able to play at tempo and have used Transcribe to slow down the backing track so I could play along.

Although I’ve been playing what’s written (well trying to at least) they have written the chords in which might help if you wanted to break away from what is written and improvise.

Some books I work through and have no real desire to go back to, these however I’m quite sure I will keep wanting to play and try and perfect.

All the best,

Chris

p.s if your interested, I've sometimes found the Book Depository is the cheapest on music & free delivery world wide.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Chris,

I quite like Gershwin and am considering the movies tenor book. What songs do they have?
 
Hi Lloyd,

Here you go:

Gershwin By Special Arrangement:
  • I Got Rhythm
  • But Not For Me
  • Embraceable You
  • A Foggy Day
  • Fascinating Rhythm
  • I’ve Got A Crush On You
  • 'S Wonderful
  • How Long Has This Been Going On
  • Nice Work If You Can Get It
  • Someone To Watch Over Me
  • Strike Up The Band

Movie Songs By Special Arrangement:
  • Sweet Georgia Brown
  • Over The Rainbow
  • A Day In The Life Of A Fool
  • Bye Bye Blackbird
  • As Time Goes By
  • Days Of Wine And Roses
  • Emily
  • The Way You Look Tonight
  • Misty
  • On Green Dolphin Street
  • Almost Like Being In Love

Broadway By Special Arrangement:
  • Ain't Misbehavin'
  • All The Things You Are
  • Bewitched
  • Have You Met Miss Jones
  • It's All Right With Me
  • I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
  • Just In Time
  • My Funny Valentine
  • My Ship
  • Summertime
  • Thou Swell
 

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