My Romance (M.Taylor)

Composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the 1935 musical *Jumbo*, "My Romance" quickly transcended its Broadway origins to become one of the most revered vehicles in the Great American Songbook. Over the decades, quintessential interpretations by legends like Chet Baker, Bill Evans, and Ella Fitzgerald cemented its status as a quintessential jazz ballad, prized for its harmonic malleability and sweeping, emotionally resonant melody. The composition represents the pinnacle of 1930s theater writing, balancing sophisticated chromatic voice-leading with an intimate, conversational lyricism that invites profound jazz reinterpretation. Mark Taylor’s masterful big band adaptation reimagines this timeless classic as a lush, expressive ballad centered around a gorgeous medium-slow swing feel. The arrangement unfolds in the key of C major, evoking a mood of introspective warmth, understated elegance, and soaring romanticism. Taylor constructs a rich harmonic landscape that utilizes extended chord voicings, subtle reharmonizations, and gorgeous woodwinddoublings to create a dense, shimmering texture. The emotional arc builds gracefully from hushed, delicate ensemble openings to a full-throated, passionate climax before dissolving back into a serene, meditative coda. The arrangement features a prominent flugelhorn or tenor saxophone soloist who carries the primary melodic weight through the initial statements, supported by flowing, interwoven counterlines in the lower reeds and muted brass. Taylor avoids predictable scoring by distributing melodic fragments across different sections, creating an organic conversation between the rhythm section and the horns. The technical challenges lie primarily in maintaining impeccable intonation, balance, and breath control during extended slow-tempo passages, as well as executing the rubato-leaning phrasing demanded by the ballad style. Advanced high school, collegiate, and professional big bands will find this chart deeply rewarding, as it tests a group's maturity, tonal color palette, and dynamic control rather than sheer velocity. Success with this arrangement hinges on the ensemble's ability to maintain a relaxed yet driving time feel at a slow tempo, where every subdivision matters. The conductor should emphasize smooth, connected phrasing (legato) throughout the horn sections, ensuring that background figures never overpower the featured soloist. Pay close attention to dynamic markings: the dynamic range spans from a delicate *pianissimo* to a rich, full-ensemble *mezzo-forte*, requiring strict discipline from the brass section to avoid bright or harsh tones. Mutes (cup and harmon) should be balanced carefully to blend with the open-horn voicings. Rehearsal time is best spent isolating the rubato transitional phrases and ensuring the rhythm section lays down a feather-light, unhurried pulse that anchors the ensemble without dragging. Q: What instruments and parts are included in this big band arrangement? A: The 17-instrument instrumentation includes standard big band setup: 5 saxophones (Alto 1, Alto 2, Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Baritone), 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and a 4-piece rhythm section (piano, bass, guitar, and drums), spanning a 50-page conductor and parts score. Q: What is the difficulty level of Mark Taylor's "My Romance"? A: This arrangement is rated as medium-advanced (Grade 4), making it ideal for advanced high school, collegiate, and professional jazz ensembles looking to showcase maturity, tone, and ballad interpretation. Q: What is the historical context of the musical material? A: Based on Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's 1935 Broadway tune from *Jumbo*, this chart honors the traditional jazz ballad standards popularized by mid-century icons while introducing contemporary big band harmonizations. Q: What makes this specific arrangement by Mark Taylor unique? A: Taylor’s chart stands out due to its exquisite chord substitutions, inventive sectional interplay, and a sophisticated approach to ballad pacing that elevates it far beyond a standard stock arrangement. Q: What is the performance duration and tempo feel of the piece? A: The arrangement is set to a reflective, slow-to-medium ballad tempo (around 68-72 BPM) with a relaxed swing feel, and typically runs between 4.5 and 5.5 minutes depending on solo extensions.