A Big Band Christmas: Score
Arr. Carl Strommen
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0002377
$8.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
It is really hard to find quality Christmas material for jazz ensemble that doesn't require a long time to prepare. Well, here it is! Carl Strommen has arranged a solid medley of all-time favorite Christmas carols in a variety of jazz styles and tempos. You will hear THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, JINGLE BELLS, O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL, and WE THREE KINGS. This is the only Christmas arrangement you will need this year! (5:47)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Big Band Christmas: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
134
SKU:
00-PR-0002377
More about this title
About the Arranger: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen's arrangements and compositions span band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and vocal contexts, making his work a fixture in concert halls, film, and television. His output has earned him consistent ASCAP Standard Writers Awards and positions him as one of the most frequently performed composer-arrangers in the field. He holds an adjunct professorship in orchestration and composition at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus and remains active as a clinician and commission writer.
Why we love this
Strommen understands the constraint every jazz director faces in December: finding Christmas material that sounds fresh and professional without demanding weeks of rehearsal time. This medley delivers four recognizable carols in distinct jazz styles, each short enough to teach quickly but substantial enough to showcase your ensemble's swing feel and section blend.
What to expect
A swing-era celebration that respects the melodies you know while dressing them in modern jazz clothes. The variety of tempos and styles keeps the energy moving and the listening experience playful rather than saccharine.
Who it's for
Jazz ensemble directors seeking Christmas repertoire that doesn't require substantial rehearsal time relative to its musical payoff. This arrangement works for high school and college jazz groups at the intermediate level who have a solid foundation in swing phrasing and section independence.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the groove pocket in each style shift before the full ensemble enters. The transition between tempos requires the rhythm section to lock in cleanly, so isolate those moments in sectional rehearsal first.
- Balance the melody voices against the harmonic fill-ins so the carol remains identifiable even as the jazz voicings add sophistication. Too many competing lines will bury the tune.
- Use the four-carol structure as a program anchor. This length works perfectly for a concert closer or as the centerpiece of a short holiday set without overwhelming either your students or your audience.
How to use it
Build a holiday concert around this medley as your jazz ensemble's closing set, pairing it with shorter band or choral pieces to create an evening that balances tradition with contemporary energy. Alternatively, slot it into a winter concert in the second half as a tonal shift after more formal repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Swing phrasing and rhythmic precision across multiple tempos
- Melodic clarity when jazz harmonies surround the tune
- Sectional blend and balance within jazz voicings
- Quick style adaptation (shifting feel and articulation between arrangements)
- Rhythmic cooperation between rhythm section and ensemble