66 Festive & Famous Chorales for Band: Baritone T.C. Book

Erickson's collection speaks to what directors actually need: a single resource that works as both serious musicianship tool and practical warm-up staple. The SATB voicings are clean and idiomatic for band, meaning every baritone player gets genuinely musical material to play, not filler.

Sacred and secular traditions meet in a single, cohesive sound. The harmonic language is familiar yet never trite; each chorale unfolds with clarity and warmth, inviting players to listen beyond their own part and hear the whole.

Baritone players in concert bands of all levels will find genuine musical work here. From middle school ensembles building fundamentals to advanced groups refining ensemble blend, these chorales offer material that scales with your program's development.

• Balance the inner voices (alto and tenor) with the melody line; baritone sits in the middle register, so shade dynamics slightly to let sopranos shine without overwhelming the harmonic foundation.
• Shape phrases through the arpeggiated harmonies rather than note-to-note; connect each chorale as a complete musical statement even at warm-up tempos.
• Work intonation as a section first, then integrate with the full band; the narrower range of this collection makes pitch consistency immediately audible.

Open rehearsals with a chorale or two to settle the band into focused listening before tackling larger works. Program festive selections as concert openers, or use the sacred arranements to bookend holiday performances. The variety within 66 selections means you'll always have exactly the right piece for the moment.

• Balancing within SATB voicings
• Sustaining tone and phrasing across longer note values
• Ensemble intonation in four-part harmony
• Awareness of harmonic function and voice leading
• Sight-reading in keys across the band spectrum