I started playing trumpet in 7th grade. There have been a number of serendipitous moments that have happened along my musical career. During 7th grade, our family took a trip to New Orleans for the weekend and I was down at Jackson Square and there was a big band playing that had some great trumpets. I remember being completely in awe and LOVED it! It really was one of those moments as I’m learning trumpet that I was excited that I was playing trumpet.

Moving along, in college at Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State College), we had Bobby Shew come in as a guest for the Pensacola Jazz Festival and our jazz band director let me be Bobby’s driver for the weekend. I had a lot of time in the car, going back and forth etc to talk with Bobby which was amazing. And his flugelhorn playing….THAT WAS IT!!!! No question…That’s a Glen Miller sound moment for me.

I’ve played a lot of solos in churches throughout the years, but it’s always difficult to find arrangements that really work for trumpet (and other solo instruments). I can honestly say that it has been my dream to play a solo flugelhorn with a full orchestra backing me for years. I figured that if I’m looking for that sort of arrangement, so are other trumpet/flugelhorn players.

So here is our new Solo Plus Series!

We are introducing this series with a tribute to Bobby Shew. In my mind, this is the type arrangement Bobby might play of Silent Night. My good friend, and first call session trumpet player, Steve Patrick played flugel on the recording and we really did it as a homage to Bobby.

You can listen to it here:

[audio:Silent Night-Flugel and Strings.mp3]

Along with music for trumpet/flugelhorn in Bb Treble Clef (also could work for Soprano Sax/Tenor Sax/Baritone), we provide a C Treble Clef (Flute/Oboe), Eb Treble Clef (Alto Sax) and a C Bass Clef (Trombone/Baritone) solo part so you could feature whichever soloists is most appropriate for your orchestra.

Instrumentation is:

Solo written out in C Treble, Bb Treble, Eb Treble, C Bass

Flute  1-2, Oboe, Clarinet 1 & 2, Horn 1-3, Trumpet 1-2, Trombone 1-4(Tuba), Violin 1-2, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Bells(Glockenspiel), Timpani, Harp, Rhythm, written out Piano, written out Upright Bass, String Synth 1 (Violins & Viola), String Synth 2 (Cello & Ac. Bass), Alto Sax 1-3 (sub for Horn 1-3) and Tenor Sax 1-2 (sub for Trombone 1-2)

To purchase the complete orchestration to this arrangement, click here.

You can purchase the demonstration recording here to listen to (only $1.49).

You can purchase the accompaniment track here to practice with and perform to.

If you’re just performing with the accompaniment CD, you can purchase only the solo parts here.

This arrangement is a nod to both Clifford Brown With Strings and one of the great living legendary flugelhorn players, Bobby Shew. I hope you enjoy it.

Be it a church, a symphony, a school orchestra or even civic orchestra, you will LOVE playing this beautiful arrangement!