M-R Music's Wind Band Report No. 5

Vol. 1, No. 5 October 2013

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Jeff Girard and M-R Music present

The Wind Band Report

Issue 5 - Holiday Music 2013

Hello fellow band director, and and welcome back to The Wind Band Report. Yeah, I know, nobody really wants to be thinking about Christmas and Holiday music before we've even gotten out of Hallow-"dress like your favorite meme". But few of us are blessed with a band that can perform an end-of-year concert in 1 rehearsal, so it's time to plan for it.

Here are few of my favorite charts both from this year and recent years. For each grade level I'll talk about 2 title in detail and give you links to 2 alternates. There's lots more available though. Several of these selections are secular in nature, for those of you who this is an issue for.

As always, click on the images to hear sound samples. All of these titles are either in stock or are about to arrive, so drop me a line if any of these interest you. If you live near St. Louis, stop by and see all the music we have on the shelves (it's a lot!)

Grade 4

Grade 3

Grade 2

Grade 1

Click the images to listen to each selection.

Grade 4

End of the Year Special

Andrew Pearsen

I was taken by this piece as soon as I heard it and ordered several sets from the Netherlands so I could do it with my band. I talked about it to a few directors an sold out of most of the first batch so I have some additional sets coming now.

It's an original composition not based on any carols, written originally for orchestra for a French TV channel to celebrate their end of the year festivities. It's a short 2 1/2 minute opener with lots of tuned percussion and sleigh bells, plus some solo work for the euphonium. It's fun and festive and a great way to open any Holiday concert. There's even an optional part for women's chorus if you like. Note that the recorded excerpts here are from the original orchestral version, but the band version is identical to the orchestral one. View score.

#013327060

Set - $165

Joy to the Season

Sean O'Loughlin

I admit that most of the wind band Christmas medleys I hear don't normally excite me too much. Usually it's a bunch of standard carols with standard harmonizations that seem like more of the same each time I hear them.

This one stood out. Sean O'Louglin has added a lot of rhythmic interest to these tunes. There's always something new to listen to, but the overall style of each song is consistent in itself to keep it from sounding like it's wandering randomly about. I actually found myself anticipating what the style of the next selection was going to be like. I think it's a great fit for upper high schools and colleges, in particular if you teach at a sacred based institution with a good music program. View score.

#SPS56

Set - $90

~Other works to consider~

December Dance - Andrew Boysen Jr., $160. GRADE 5! If you REALLY want to throw a challenge at your upper level band, here's an energetic and driving romp. You'll need your players in their top form for these rhythms. Listen. View score.

Christmas Day - Gustav Holst/van Beringen, $85. Written 100 years ago for chorus and orchestra, this masterwork has been transcribed for band with or without the choral parts. Listen.

Grade 3

Adventum

Jared Barnes

Jared Barnes is new composer working with Alfred music (I don't know if there's any relation to James Barnes or not). His first publication with Alfred is this nicely evocative setting of two standard carols, O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Ukranian Bell Carol. Stylistically I like how he keeps a majestic feeling through both settings, and I particularly like how he created some original connecting material that compliments each of the the carol melodies.

It's nice to be able to hear a carol medley that isn't just a literal transcription of each song one after another. This is a great filler piece for a holiday concert that works with almost any style of piece preceding or following it.

View score.

#39641

Set - $75

Dashing Through the Snow

Richard Saucedo

There are pieces that are just a joy to listen to and play. This is one of them. It's not just a plain, straightforward setting of the old tune, but it's also not so far afield as to start getting overly academic. It's only 2 minutes long, but there are enough harmonic, textural and rhythmic varieties within those 2 minutes to keep it engaging throughout, with a subtle sense of humor to boot.

II see this as a great closing piece to send the audience and players home on a cheerful note, even if your band is capable of playing grade 4 or 5 music. You could think of it as a nice sherbet at the end of your Christmas feast - cleanses the palette, but still has a very satisfying flavor and texture to finish off a complex meal.

#04000998

Set - $55

~Other works to consider~

With Every Winter's Breath - Randal Standridge, $70. This poignant work incorporates original material with a portion of Go, Tell it on the Mountain to create a gorgeous memorial piece evocative of a quiet snowcapped mountain scene. Listen. View score.

Angels Sing - Bill Calhoun, $90. A good exercise in learning basic multimeter as Calhoun puts some rhythmic interest into Angels We Have Heard on High and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Listen. View Score.

*** Click on the images to hear recordings of each piece. ***

Grade 2

Santa's Wild Ride

Robert W. Smith

Here's a fun romp to end your young band's Christmas concert. It starts with a lively and seemingly straightforward setting of Jingle Bells. However, once it reaches the bridge, Smith starts adding a number of vaudevillian style harmonic twists including percussion effects and momentary dissonances. The trombones in particular will enjoy being able to show off sliding around in multiple places, especially at the end - which you can use as a means to help them develop their ears.

You can end your show with this, or you might consider using this as an "unplanned encore" too. You can adjust the speed of the final chorus to as fast as your band can play it (and still play it well, of course). View score.

#011-4241-00

Set - $50

Moon of Winter

Vince Gassi

The Huron Carol is Canada's oldest Christmas carol, written by a Jesuit missionary in 1643 using the melody of a traditional French song. Intended as a gift to the native Huron people, this setting maintains it's connection to it's history and is reminiscent of Native American musical style. The music is haunting, but at a moderate progressive tempo rather than a lethargic one.

There are numerous educational opportunities in this piece both historically and musically, with chamber music-like phrases, open fifth tunings, and solo/soli section work. It's accessible to younger bands, and engaging enough to keep them interested in learning more. View score.

#37792

Set - $48

~Other works to consider~

A Noel Night - Robert W. Smith, $48 Based on O Holy Night, but adapted for younger bands, using a more moderate range. All sections get an opportunity with the melody, and there are plenty of percussion parts to keep them occupied too. Listen. View score.

Wizards in Winter - arr Bob Phillips and George Megaw, $60. From the popular Trans-Siberian Orchestra show, here is a rousing original crowd pleaser. Listen. View score.

The Name's Claus...Santa Claus - Mark Williams, $48 In honor of Bond's 50th anniversary, this is a fun little number combining snippets of standard carols with "James Bond" style music. Note - I like to swing the middle section when I perform it, even though it's not marked that way. You'll know where that section is. Listen. View score.

Grade 1

Holiday Bobsled Run

Robert Sheldon

An original work for beginning band that's suitable for concerts in any school regardless of whether you are allowed to perform "Christmas" music or not. Easy enough to be played by most beginning level bands, but musically interesting as well with several small "musical education" spots, like bell tones, dynamic changes and chromatics - but all at a beginning grade level of difficulty, so it's certainly not overwhelming.

It's a charming little piece, and that can be hard to find at a grade 1 level. View score.

#39604

Set - $48

Bring Your Drums, Jeanette, Isabella

Michael Story

Remember what I said last issue about dismissing a piece because of it's title? Same case here. This piece is better than the title may lead you to believe. We've all heard several cheesy settings of tunes that feature a section of the band in their title. This one is better than that.

The wind parts are a simple, solid grade 1 while the percussion parts are just slightly more involved with eighth notes and a single roll. You can double up the tom players as much as you like so as to keep all your percussion players involved. View score.

#39508

Set - $55

~Other works to consider~

Snow Globe - Robert Sheldon, $48 Another original holiday work. It's beautiful, elegant in it's simplicity, and full of teaching opportunities. Listen. View score.

Old Fashioned Sleigh Ride - Scott Watson, $45. Best described as a nostalgic aural rendition of a "Currier and Ives" print. Easy going and and charming. And one of your trumpet players can learn his "Sleigh Ride" whinney. Listen. View score.

Next up, it's time for Midwest materials. The next newsletter will cover some new titles by Maecenas Music, and subsequent emails will give you more previews of new items that will be in our booths. Make sure to stop by and see us in the 1100 aisle where Shattinger Music used to be. I'll be there ready to meet and talk with you all. See you soon!

I'm still open to newsletter suggestions from you. Tell me about a topic you'd like me to research and present. Email me at instrumental@mrmusicinc.com with your thoughts and I'll look for an opportunity to incorporate it into a Report issue.