Victory Stride

Duration: 4 minutes

Instrumentation:
2[1,2/P].2.2.2 – 2asx 2 tsx – 4.4.3.1– T (opt.) + 1– piano – strings

Saxes optional but recommended.
Percussion: Drum Set

Reduced Orchestra Version:
1[1/P].1.1.1 - 1asx (opt.) - 2221 - T (opt.) + 1 - piano - strings
Percussion: Drum Set

Preview the score (reduced version)

In both versions, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, and the Piano all play improvised solos from the orchestra. This edition includes written solos as suggestions for players who do not improvise.

Editing, engraving, soli transcriptions, and arranging by Nicholas Hersh.

This theme may date from the late 1910s, but its sound is notably more modern than the ragtime feel from that time. Johnson recorded it in 1944 for Blue Note records with a studio band named “James P. Johnson’s Blue Note Jazzmen.” Founded by Francis Wolf and Alfred Lion in 1939, the label was initially devoted to traditional jazz and swing. Johnson recorded as part of a repertory ensemble for the label under the name of varying musicians all referred to as the “Jazzmen.” Johnson also recorded some seminal piano solos for them. Johnson’s orchestration for symphonic ensemble of this sixteen bar swing theme follows the basic format of the small jazz band recording with ensemble statements of the theme followed by solos, culminating in an ensemble rideout.