When the Saints Go Marching In

Written by Dr. Michael White
Published by MGW Jazz Publishing (ASCAP) and Pattie Rae Music (ASCAP)

This re-cording’s only non-original theme, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN, has been the most popular song identified with New Orleans and early jazz. We decided to give this traditional standard a different treatment – opening with a slow clarinet dirge statement (in the major key), followed by an original phrase to introduce the up-tempo section; then comes a rousing vocal and set of rhythm section solos, followed by a clarinet and drums engagement in a minor key / tom-tom duet before the song returns to the usual major mode to close out.