A Minor Holiday Celebration

SKU: CL.RWS-1911-75

SKU: AP.1-ADV7424

ISBN 9783892215783. UPC: 805095074246. English. Traditional.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas is an American traditional carol by an anonymous composer. St. Nicholas is associated with a priest serving in Asia Minor who was consecrated as Archbishop in Myra, then was made a patron Saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. Legend has it that he was generous and kind to children and practiced gift giving in secrecy at night. This charming, gentle tune blends well with Pachelbel's Canon in D, and performers are urged not to take a beginning tempo too fast that would rush the coming eighth notes.

This arrangement for saxophone quartet (SATBar), rather than favoring a soprano solo with accompaniment, strives to include all the players in the music making, particularly by distributing melodic material. In addition, all dynamics and articulations should be taken as suggestions only, as performers are encouraged to make their own interpretations.

SKU: LO.99-2983H

UPC: 000308131703.

Rhythmically exciting and fun, this exhilarating holiday selection by Linda Spevacek reflects the music of the Andes and Pampas regions of South America. Even though it is written in a minor key--like much of the music from these regions--this piece is happy, joyful, and sure to add that festive Latin American spirit to your holiday concert.

SKU: AP.44852

UPC: 038081518565. English. Traditional Hanukkah.

S'vivon (se-vi-vohn) is the Hebrew word for dreidl, a four-sided top that is popular with children during the celebration of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. In this arrangement by Brendan McBrien, variations are created through the subtle use of motivic rhythms from within the melody, presenting the theme in different voices and keys in both arco and pizzicato, using the A section of the tune as an accompaniment for the B section, and, finally, changing the modality to major, which creates (for a short time) a very different feeling from the traditional minor setting. (2:50).

SKU: CF.FAS115F

ISBN 9781491154885. UPC: 680160913435. 9 x 12 inches. Key: E minor.

Rejoice, East and West pairs two of the most popular holiday pieces. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of the staples of music for the season of Advent. Its plaintive melody represents the subdued tone of Advent, waiting and anticipating during the four weeks before Christmas Day. The modal character has roots in Ancient Greece and is characteristic of the music from Middle Eastern countries. The melody of Joy to the World is attributed to George Frideric Handel. It first appeared in 1719 in a collection by Isaac Watts, who adapted the text. It is one of the most published Christmas hymns in North America and is one of the most iconic songs for celebrating the birth of Christ. The connection between these two contrasting pieces is rejoice. In Emmanuel the modal tones arrive at a major chord and the words exclaim Rejoice, rejoice! This is where a bridge is composed to arrive at a jubilant introduction of Joy to the World. This arrangement teaches students dynamic contrast, tempo changes, slurs and ties.
Rejoice, East and West pairs two of the most popular holiday pieces.  “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is one of the staples of music for the season of Advent.  Its plaintive melody represents the subdued tone of Advent, waiting and anticipating during the four weeks before Christmas Day.  The modal character has roots in Ancient Greece and is characteristic of the music from Middle Eastern countries. The melody of “Joy to the World” is attributed to George Frideric Handel.  It first appeared in 1719 in a collection by Isaac Watts, who adapted the text.  It is one of the most published Christmas hymns in North America and is one of the most iconic songs for celebrating the birth of Christ. The connection between these two contrasting pieces is “rejoice.” In “Emmanuel” the modal tones arrive at a major chord and the words exclaim “Rejoice, rejoice!” This is where a bridge is composed to arrive at a jubilant introduction of “Joy to the World.” This arrangement teaches students dynamic contrast, tempo changes, slurs and ties.

SKU: HL.324482

UPC: 888680985011. 5.0x5.0x0.15 inches.

Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's picture book about a snowman come to life was made into a celebrated half-hour animated film in 1982. For the sequence in which the snowman flies with a boy named James to the North Pole, Howard Blake composed this haunting, minor-chord driven theme, layered with images of nature, mountains, forests and streams. Don't miss your chance to program this beautiful song with the accompanying string and percussion parts.