Music For Horns

Both Muskrat ramble (1926) and That’s a plenty (1914) have become jazz standards since their first appearances, and hence recorded, covered, and arranged by and for a large number of artists and instrumental combinations. While That’s a plenty started out as a rag, both works are now part of the Dixieland repertoire.

Martinet’s arrangement is a straight-forward transcription of the main tunes, with no improvisatory solo sections (which however could be added easily as desired). He starts out with a 4^th horn solo, the only time that part gets anything else than the bass line. From there on it is up to horn 1 to lead, with the occasional swap with horn 3, while the 2^nd part constantly keeps on the middle voice.

The tunes will be instantly recognizable, there is little added to them, and the accompaniment figures are rhythmic and transparent. There is no indication that swung quavers (eighth notes) are required, but that certainly is implied. Overall a welcome foray into the world of Dixieland, for all those quartets not content with the standard classical repertoire any longer.