The Optimum Number
(published by Furore Music- Germany)


Instrumentation: Single Movement Work for small Jazz Groups
Piano, Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums plus four front line instruments: Soprano Sax, Trumpet/Flugal Horn, Tenor Sax and Trombone.
Edition: score and parts
Publisher: Furore-Verlag
Difficulty: intermediate
Item no.: fue 200 ISMN: M-50012-275-3
List price: 28,00 €

The Optimum Number - Rhapsodies To Rhumbas 2013A lively swing jazz work in 7/4 time including sections for improvisation in 3/4 time.

An arrangement of this work for woodwinds and rhythm section was performed by the Brandmanburg Jazz Ensemble at the Rhapsodies to Rhumbas concert on the 9th of November 2013.

This is a swinging piece written for a Jazz combo comprising of a rhythm section and four front line. The opening section is in 7 beats in the bar 'the optimum number' for many things musical - eg 7 notes, 7 sharp keys, 7 flat keys etc.(Hence the title) The middle section is in a swing triple time, and includes a section for improvisation.

The score of this music is published in two parts:

  1. Piano conductor part with a fully written out piano part
  2. Instrumental score.

Score and Parts are available from the publisher - Furore Music. Please Click Here

Analysis of the Form

The form is broad ternary
  • The first section is has the main theme an is in 7/4 time:
    • A ( 8 bars) A ( 7 bars) episode or connecting section ( 8 bars ) A (8 bars)
  • The middle section (B) contains a chord progression in 3/4 time which can be played up to six times as the accompaniment, while each of the instruments has a turn at improvising.
  • Then there is another episode or connecting section
  • After that there is a return to the original theme A for 7 bars at the Sign (segno) ) concluding with a coda of one bar.