A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$62.00 USD

A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-38341
Price: 62.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring: Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant / Noël Nouvelet / The Huron Carol / Good King Wenceslas

Traditional / arr. Vince Gassi

Grade: 2 (Easy)

Item: 00-38341

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Get ready for an abundance of merriment! This work features carols that have been traditionally sung in Canada for many years and will help to create a spirit of mirth in no time. It opens with the joyous strains of "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant (He is Born, The Divine Child)" and continues with the plaintive and modal "Noël Nouvelet (Sing We Now of Christmas)." "The Huron Carol ('Twas In the Moon of Wintertime)" is then presented with remnants of "Noël Nouvelet" cleverly woven in. The dramatic conclusion develops brief dialogue between "Good King Wenceslas" and "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant" that brings the work to an exuberant and powerful close. Juxtaposing the lyrical and expressive with the joyous and cheerful in this masterful arrangement will add a little touch of Canada to your next holiday concert.

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Series: Belwin Young Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 246

UPC: 038081436494

SKU: 00-38341

More about this title

About the Arranger: Vince Gassi

Vince Gassi has built a reputation as a prolific composer and arranger with more than 100 published works since joining Alfred Music in 2006. His education spans the University of Western Ontario, the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. from York University in Toronto, grounding him in both classical training and contemporary arranging practice.

Gassi's work in music education runs deep. He spent twenty-five years teaching instrumental music at elementary and secondary levels and remains active as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout North America. His pieces appear regularly on contest and concert programs internationally and have been performed across North America, Europe, and Japan. Beyond composition, he leads seminars on creative engagement and digital workflow strategies for music directors.

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Why we love this

Gassi's approach to Canadian carols respects their modal and lyrical character while building genuine drama through thoughtful juxtaposition. The climactic dialogue between two distinct hymns creates an engaging arc that holds young musicians' attention without demanding virtuosity. At Grade 2, this earns its place on a holiday program not because it's easy, but because the arrangement itself becomes the musical content.

What to expect

The work opens with infectious joy, then pivots inward through the modal plainness of "Noël Nouvelet," creating an arc that feels reverent and earnest. The finale erupts with energy and celebration as the two major themes clash and resolve, leaving audiences with genuine exuberance rather than saccharine sentiment.

Who it's for

This score and parts set is designed for concert band directors programming a holiday concert who want repertoire with cultural substance at an accessible level. Young musicians benefit from playing familiar carol melodies arranged with enough craft to feel musically grown-up, not simplified.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening strains of "Il Est Né" with clarity in the upper voices; this melody carries the character throughout.
Observe the modal color of "Noël Nouvelet" carefully, particularly in the harmonization; resist the urge to brighten it.
The woven combination in "The Huron Carol" section requires clear articulation from whoever carries each melody so the layering reads.
Shape the final dialogue between "Good King Wenceslas" and "Il Est Né" with distinct character for each theme; let the tempo and dynamic contrast speak.

How to use it

Position this as your centerpiece holiday number rather than a filler piece. Its sophisticated arrangement and multimovement structure give it weight equal to a major concert work, making it ideal for the second half of a program or as a closing statement. The familiar melodic material allows audiences to connect immediately while directors showcase their band's ensemble maturity.