For modern-day adults who grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s, The Muppet Show marks a memorable and influential portion of their childhoods. This arrangement brings back all of those nostalgic memories by delivering that inimitable theme song with the energetic use of a Brass Quintet.

In performance, this arrangement will reward the exaggerated use of dynamics. Every instrumental part gets its turn with the melody, but it’s important for the other players to stay out of the way of the lead. Since the tempo moves along at a pretty rapid clip, it’s also important to play lightly to not get bogged down and muddy during any of the technical passages. As a fun option, your trumpet players could optionally play their first page on solotone mutes.

Other than a 1st trumpet part that briefly ascends to a written high “D” (which could be played down an octave), none of the other parts should pose much of a range challenge for even young players. The Tuba part is not unreasonably different from your average tuba part, but there are a number of featured moments…the exposed note in measure 9 should be played to the bari-saxiest!

This will make a fine addition to a brass quintet’s book for a nostalgia or novelty set!