Par BERLIN IRVING. Mark Freeh has updated Irving Berlin's hardy perennial White Christmas for brass band. Brass Band Grade 4: Advanced Youth and 3rd Section. Duration: 3 minutes./ Répertoire / Brass Band

Christina Rossetti wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol in 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem. They were set to music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) for inclusion in the first edition (1906) of The English Hymnal edited by his life-long friend Ralph Vaughan Williams. Philip Sparke has carefully arranged the beautiful melody into this delightful version for brass band. A must for any Christmas concert.

Meditation on 'Quem Pastores Laudavere'-Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to a number of different texts in different countries it was originally a carol celebrating the Christmas story in particular the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the shepherds.

???Christmas Colours??? is a palette consisting of several Christmas songs. Bruce Fraser has mainly used the colours green (the colour of holly) and white (the colour of snow). This composition begins with the chiming of festive bells - if you listen well however you can already hear short fragments from 'The Holly and the Ivy' whose entire melody is finally played alternated with 'The Sussex Carol'. After this the pace slows down and the stately 'See amid the Winter Snow' sounds but parts from 'Jingle Bells' and 'Silent Night' can also be heard. Then after walking under 'The Holly and the Ivy' once again the celebration of Christmas may begin!

This enduringly popular seasonal song has long been a Christmas favourite even though the lyrics don?t mention ?Christmas? at all. The words were by Dick Smith (1901-1935) and the music by Felix Bernard (1897-1944). The inspiration was reportedly a visit by Smith to Honesdale?s (his hometown) Central Park when it was covered in snow.The first recording was made by Richard Himber?s Ritz-Carlton Orchestra in 1934. The same year Guy Lombardo and his band The Royal Canadians took the song to number 2 in the US Billboard Chart where it stayed for 9 weeks. It has since been recorded by over 150 artists the most successful versionsbeing by Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters both released in 1946.

David Well composed 'X-mas for Three' for three young pupils of his who wished to give a Christmas concert. He arranged six well-known Christmas songs for them and their first performance was a great success. This was reason for the composer to adapt the piece for 'orchestra' by adding percussion. The title has stayed the same and the work can still be played by as few as three musicians but as the saying goes: 'The more the merrier'! 'X-mas for Three' consists of the following parts : 1. Oh du fröhliche 2. Kling Glöckchen kling 3. Gloria in excelsis deo 4. Joy to the world! 5. The first Noel 6. We wish you a MerryChristmas

Irving Berlin's hit Christmas song made famous by Bing Crosby has here been arranged for brass band by Alan Fernie. Score and parts included

Whereas ???Auld Lang Syne??? may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ???Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....??? many people take their refuge to lyrics like ???rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne???. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ???Auld Lang Syne??? is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year???s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions ??? sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind' Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne' For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We???ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

???Dutch Christmas Song??? is an arrangement of the old Dutch song ???Hoe leit dit Kindeke??? (Vlaanderen 1897). The tender almost fragile words have been movingly honoured by Timothy Travis. The addition of percussion gives this lovely Christmas song a modern touch.

Sleigh Ride-Troika is a Russian word that means a group of three but it also means a light Russian sleigh pulled by three horses. Christmas Troika portrays the joy of Christmas via a musical sleigh-ride. Listen as the glistening snow crinkles beneath the weight of the sleigh and the hooves of the prancing horses as it travels through the countryside. One can almost see the frost on the trees and hear the wind blow and the sleigh-bells ring as the tune O Come All Ye Faithful winds its way through the music.

This terrific melody by the 19th century French composer Adolph Adam is one of the world???s most famous Christmas solo melodies. It is unique due to the fact that it was the only Christmas song recorded by the legendary opera singer Enrico Caruso. This arrangement for soprano cornet and brass band will make a fantastic touching addition to any Christmas carol.