This copyrighted song is licensed through the ArrangeMe program.
for Alto or Bass Vocalist and Full Orchestra
A dark and volatile rendition of a Halloween classic, with eerie harmonies and orchestral fire.
Excerpt 1 (live recording):
Duration: 2:45 Difficulty: Advanced Language: English Vocalists: Written for Alto or Bass Vocalist, but transposed parts are provided so the vocal part could be played by instrumental soloists.
Song by Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Herb Slotkin Recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins; covered by Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bette Midler, Bryan Ferry, Annie Lennox, and many others… Arranged by Chappell Kingsland Part of the Wild Beautiful Music Halloween Series
This arrangement of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ iconic song was written in 2025 for the Denver Rock Orchestra’s first Halloween concert. Any attempt to transcribe Screamin’ Jay’s exact vocal performance would be completely futile, so before arranging, I listened to more than twenty cover versions and arrangements of the song, each built on the same core but with their own unique character. This orchestral version retains the essence which I heard in all of them and adds new material to create an intensely theatrical experience. The orchestration inhabits a dark and volatile soundworld; spiky, dissonant harmonies create an atmosphere of instability and menace. The central instrumental section depicts the ritual of casting a spell, an eerie incantation that suspends time. Throughout, flashes of modern harmonic language—closer to 20th-century art music than to blues—push the piece beyond its roots, heightening its psychological intensity.
Premiere: Oct. 2025 – Denver, Colorado Caity Hoffert and Denver Rock Orchestra conducted by Héctor Jardón
