A Charlie Brown Christmas: 2nd B-flat Clarinet
Arr. Carl Strommen
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0017088_C2
$3.00
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Description
Each year at the time of the holiday season, those lovable Peanuts® characters find their way into the homes of millions of fans through their famous television specials. Charlie and his friends are musically accompanied by great songs (arranged here by Carl Strommen), such as Linus and Lucy * Skating * Christmas Time Is Here * O Tannenbaum. (4:58)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Charlie Brown Christmas: 2nd B-flat Clarinet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Symphonic Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
344
SKU:
00-PC-0017088_C2
More about this title
About the Arranger: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen's arrangements and compositions span concert band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choral literature, making him one of the most frequently performed names in American music education. His work appears regularly in performance halls, on television and film soundtracks, and in the studios of clinicians nationwide. He holds an adjunct professorship in orchestration and composition at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and maintains a steady schedule as a guest clinician and commissioned composer. Strommen is a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Standard Writers Award, recognition of his sustained output across multiple musical genres and mediums.
A graduate of the City College of New York, Strommen has deepened his connections to both the academic world and the broader music community throughout his career. He divides his time between Long Island, New York, and Colorado, where he continues to compose and arrange for ensembles at all levels of proficiency.
Why we love this
Strommen captures the warmth and playfulness of the Peanuts universe without overselling it. The arrangement sits comfortably at Grade 3-4, giving ensembles genuine musical substance to perform while remaining accessible; you won't need virtuosos to make this work, and your students will recognize every melody the moment it enters. Programming this gives you a complete, audience-friendly concert that actually teaches musicianship.
What to expect
Nostalgic and genuinely joyful, with the kind of melodic directness that reminds you why these Peanuts themes have endured for decades. Strommen's arrangement preserves the gentle, slightly melancholic character of the original compositions while giving the band enough instrumental color and texture to feel festive and complete.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the high school and middle school level who want a holiday show that appeals to audiences while building ensemble discipline. Bands stepping into Grade 3-4 repertoire will find the writing accessible without feeling condescending; the orchestration is thoughtful and the medley format holds attention across nearly five minutes of music.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody line so it sings through the section colors. In a Charlie Brown medley, the tune is everything; make sure your upper woodwinds and brass never get buried under internal accompaniment.
- Keep the recorded tempo reference close during sectionals. Peanuts music thrives on rhythmic clarity and a gentle swing feel; locking that in early pays dividends in rehearsal time.
- Shape the transitions between themes with deliberate breathing and articulation changes. Moving from Linus and Lucy into Skating should feel purposeful, not mechanical.
- Let younger ensemble members play the counter-melodies and obbligatos. Strommen has distributed material generously; third and fourth parts matter musically and keep the whole band engaged.
How to use it
Reserve this for a mid-winter concert or holiday pops program where you want a piece that connects with families and non-musicians while still being musically legitimate. It pairs well alongside traditional holiday repertoire or contemporary wind band works; the medley format also makes it an ideal closer for a concert that needs an uplifting final number.
Skills your students will build
- Reading multiple thematic transitions and tempo relationships within a single medley structure
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across different instrumental combinations
- Executing clean articulation in light, conversational musical contexts
- Responding to dynamic shape and phrasing over longer melodic lines
- Ensemble synchronization across major key areas and style shifts