A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: A Canadian Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-38341S
Price: 10.00 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: 00-38341S

$10.00

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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. (4:00)

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Series: Belwin Young Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 24

UPC: 038081436500

SKU: 00-38341S

More about this title

About the Arranger: Vince Gassi

Vince Gassi holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario and studied composition and arranging at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. He earned his Ph.D. in music from York University in Toronto and has taught instrumental music at the elementary and secondary levels for twenty-five years.

Since joining Alfred Music in 2006, Gassi has published over 100 works that balance musical substance with accessibility for young ensembles. His arrangements and compositions appear regularly on festival and contest programs across North America, Europe, and Japan. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, leading seminars on creative engagement, arranging concepts, and digital workflows for music directors.

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Why we love this

Gassi's arrangement respects the melodic integrity of each carol while creating genuine musical architecture across four minutes. The weaving of "Noël Nouvelet" into "The Huron Carol" and the final dialogue between "Good King Wenceslas" and "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant" transform what could be a medley into a cohesive narrative. At Grade 2, it demands nothing beyond your band's current technique but rewards musical maturity in phrasing and balance.

What to expect

The piece opens with brightness and liturgical warmth, then shifts into something more contemplative and medieval through the modal writing. By the finale, energy rebuilds as familiar melodies collide and dance together, creating exuberance grounded in musical craftsmanship rather than bombast.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 2 level seeking holiday repertoire that honors Canadian musical tradition without requiring advanced technical facility. Directors want authentic arrangements that respect the source material and offer genuine ensemble experience beyond background music.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening statement of "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant" between sections; the joy comes from clarity, not volume.
Shape the modal character of "Noël Nouvelet" with a slightly darker, more introspective tone before it intertwines with other themes.
Clarify the dialogue between melodies in the final section so audiences hear the conversation developing rather than a blended texture.
Allow breath and space between major thematic shifts to let the program arc unfold naturally.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a holiday concert where you want to showcase both cultural breadth and ensemble musicianship. It pairs well alongside secular winter music or other world traditions, and its four-minute length makes it an ideal anchor piece without overwhelming a developing band's stamina.