Christmas Carols for Band or Brass Choir: Concert Band: Part

London Brass Band Series-Leslie Pearson's Christmas Is Coming scored for 3 Trumpets 3 Trombones Tuba 2 Percussion Organ and Keyboard. 'When I set out to arrange traditional Christmas carols I was determined that they should not be yet another run-of-the-mill strophic verse-by-verse version of our Christmas heritage. I have tried to treat each carol in the collection as the basis for a Petite Fantasie - a continuous single-movement of variations on the original tune. Of course the carol is heard in its traditional form at some point during the arrangement but hopefully its appeal is enhanced without destroying the traditional concept. Inparticular White Christmas Silent Night and the middle sections of Hark the Herald and Christmas is Coming have the soft 'lush' treatment. Christmas is Coming has a humorous opening and a 'Noblimente' end. The collection is in all a delightful mixture of musical styles through the ages.' Leslie Pearson

Austrian composer and organist Franz Xaver Gruber composed the original version of this Christmas work in 1818. It is probably one of the most famous of all Christmas carols and should not be missed from any Christmas concert. American composer William Gordon has produced this arrangement for brass band.

Contains 22 standard Christmas carols which can be played as full band or as brass choir.

The Ukrainian Bell Carol is part of a large choral work entitled Shchedryk by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (1877-1921).The tune is an adaptation of an old 'shchedrivka' a song traditionally sung on Ukrainian New Year's Eve (January 13th) which hopes for good fortune in the year to come. The tune has since been the inspiration for at least four different Christmas carols of which Carol of the Bells is the most famous. Philip Sparke has sourced the original Ukrainian melody to create this stirring arrangement.

Christmas as celebrated in England is a relatively new tradition dating from the time of Queen Victoria. Her husband Prince Albert was from Germany and he brought many German Christmas traditions with him including the Christmas tree and Christmas cards and even carols such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Philip Sparke has however used a varied selection of English melodies to arrange into his Festival of Carols. The choir parts are seperately available (order no. AMP 227-050).

Originally created for full orchestra this version for advanced level bands and recorded by the acclaimed Dallas Wind Symphony conducted by Jerry Junkin is a magnificent and powerful setting for the holidays. Starting with abrilliant fanfare for brass the piece then blossoms into a showcase for the entire ensemble incorporating the familiar carols O Come All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World. An impressive way to open a holidayconcert! Dur: 3:45Recorded by the Dallas Wind Symphony – Jerry Junkin conductorOn “Horns For the Holidays ” Reference Recordings RR-126

Nigel Hess’ vivacious and colourful A Christmas Overture originally commissioned as an orchestral work by John Rutter for his 2007 Christmas Festival proved an instant success with audience and orchestra alike. Traditional carols skilfully juxtaposed and interwoven provide the thematic material. These include Ding Dong! Merrily On High; Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant; Infant Holy Infant Lowly; Personent Hodie; We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Angels From The Realms Of Glory which brings the overture to a majestic close. Fragments of other carols appear along the way to enrich the texture of what is surely one of the mostattractive pieces written for the festive season. Brass Band Grade 4/5. Duration: 7 minutes 30 seconds

In 'Ding Dong it's Christmas' Scottish composer Bruce Fraser makes a sport of misleading his audience time and again. The title already indicates that this piece has been based on the well-known Carol 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' even if the melody makes a somewhat halting start. When it gathers pace however also due to the percussion section suddenly various other carols may be recognized. Peace and quiet reign in the middle part during which we can enjoy Bach's charming 'O Jesulein süss'. 'Ding Dong it's Christmas' ends in the same way it began even if more and more Carols put in an appearance. Merry Christmas!

The German Christmas song Von Himmel hoch O Englein kommt is one of the oldest known German carols with the earliest versions also known as Susani going back to the 14th century. This exceptional arrangement by Jan de Haan works extremely well for brass band and will make an ideal work for any Christmas concert.