Tim Garland: I Wish I Knew What it Was to be Free

"I Wish I Knew What it Was to be Free is a difficult number to set in a big band context. It was orignally written for rhythm section and vocals and can become very stodgy with a larger group. Garland overcomes this by asking for a slower tempo than usual and writing in the style of a horn chorale with modern harmonies. He also uses highly syncopated passages to keep the rhythm on the move. The effect is very beautiful, if rather difficult to bring off well in a school context."