Joe Garland

In the Mood

Soprano saxophone in Bb
1st alto saxophone in Eb
2nd alto saxophone in Eb
Tenor saxophone in Bb
Baritone saxophone in Eb

'In the Mood', one of the Glenn Miller Band's shining numbers, is one of the best-known big band tunes of the swing era.
Since in the original the crucial parts of the piece are entrusted to the saxophone section, an arrangement for saxophones only seems obvious.
The present arrangement ventures to integrate the tasks of the rhythm section and brass into a five-part saxophone movement in such a way that the ensemble conveys as perfect an impression of the original as possible without the addition of further instruments.
Because of the limitation in range - the plucked double bass would sound in a much lower register - the bass part in particular had to be arranged differently from the big band version: The broken chords of the original were transformed into a melodically attractive 'walking bass' for the baritone saxophone. The omission of the drums with their swinging basic rhythm and 'fill ins' was compensated by small rhythmic extras - also in the baritone saxophone part. The solos known since Glenn Miller with their many 'blue notes' for alto and tenor saxophone were taken over, the trumpet solo appears to be transformed into a soprano saxophone solo.
A small portion of show business, by the way, cannot hurt in the performance: The various riffs, the clownish leaps in the tenor solo and the deep 'trombone tone' towards the end of the piece (also in the tenor saxophone), which seems grotesque at least in the forte, provide ample opportunity.

Have fun and good luck!
Albert Loritz