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[tombone21]

Hey. I've recently fallen head over heels for the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Whats your favorite chart?

[BGuttman]

"Song of the Volga Boatmen", but most bands today can't play it.  The 5th sax part was written for Ernie Caceres and calls for doubling alto and baritone.

[WaltTrombone]

The last one of the night. 


Seriously, the ones that I'm least tired of are Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo.

[DaveAshley]

Ooooooh tough one....
Just a few off the top of my head:
Runnin' Wild
Volga Boatmen
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Rhapsody in Blue
Jeep Jockey Jump
Serenade in Blue
Dream

[Thomas Matta]

Anyone ever do the math on how many times Glenn himself played "In The Mood"?

I've played it about a million, so it seems..... 

[Andrew Meronek]

Glenn Island Special isn't too bad.

[Jox]

I saw it on tv a while back and probably don't remember it well but in the Glenn Miller Story his disappearance is announced on the radio and Moonlight Serenade plays and when his wife starts crying I found it hard not to feel emotional about it.

[DaveAshley]

I saw it on tv a while back and probably don't remember it well but in the Glenn Miller Story his disappearance is announced on the radio and Moonlight Serenade plays and when his wife starts crying I found it hard not to feel emotional about it.

The story of the band playing a "special arrangement of Little Brown Jug" after his death was made up for the movie. She might have listened to the broadcast, but the arrangement was done by Bill Finegan in 1939 and had been a hit for years. Bill arranged several of the charts I listed above.
Here's his obituary:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-finegan-arranger-of-little-brown-jug-857676.html

Here's another lesser known but fun chart on a Fats Waller tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCVb-LZTvc4

[John Beers Jr.]

I like "Three Little Fishies": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBX5i1dOh4

"Wee 'elled the wittle fitties, ere's a wot of fun,
and they fwam in the s sea til the day is 'un
and they fwam and they fwam and it wa' a 'wark
til all of a fudden, they staw a stark"

EDIT: I'll point out that a lot of these charts really benefit from being played at the very highest levels, "In The Mood" included. A few months ago, Mr. Elliott posted a video of a concert in which he and Ben Patterson played with the Eric Felten 14 piece band. A lot of the charts that I'd thought I was sick of got a whole new life.

http://tromboneforum.org/index.php/topic,28950.msg845850.html#msg845850

[Bellend]

I would agree with the comment above

EDIT: I'll point out that a lot of these charts really benefit from being played at the very highest levels, "In The Mood" included. A few months ago, Mr. Elliott posted a video of a concert in which he and Ben Patterson played with the Eric Felten 14 piece band. A lot of the charts that I'd thought I was sick of got a whole new life.

Having spent four years on the road with the Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, I can say that yes, I got sick of it sometimes but, the band always played to a high standard and with style and conviction.

So many times I've sat in at rehearsal bands,  a Miller chart comes out, every one starts moaning about playing this old crap, the band starts up, and guess what? they can't play it........not even close. Do they know this.......


Even one of the 'pot boilers' played well can still sound good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Cweg_OmII

FWIW

BellEnd

 

[TromboneMonkey]

I've always thought the orchestration of Moonlight Serenade is just absolutely killing.

[John Beers Jr.]

So many times I've sat in at rehearsal bands,  a Miller chart comes out, every one starts moaning about playing this old crap, the band starts up, and guess what? they can't play it........not even close. Do they know this.......

I had the opportunity to watch a professional band at a local bar last night, playing Basie's "Shiny Stockings". It goes for that too, that molto crescendo section about 40% of the way through was perfectly controlled, even across the sections and very, very wide.

Much different than I've ever played the piece, in all of the amateur, college, and wedding bands I've played it in.

[stonebone]

One of my favorite charts from Glenn is Jerry Gray's composition "Sun Valley Jump." It still swings with enough solo space and kicking ensemble.

[Andrew Meronek]

One of my favorite charts from Glenn is Jerry Gray's composition "Sun Valley Jump." It still swings with enough solo space and kicking ensemble.

Agreed. That's a good one, too.