A Christmas Festival: Score
By Leroy Anderson
Grade: 3.5
Item: 00-PR-0001720
$11.00
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Description
Let the earth receive her King! So rings the closing chord of this lovely original and uncut version of Leroy Anderson's classic work, including "Good King Wenceslas," "We Three Kings" and "Joy to the World." Unison parts and varied section features provide interest and skill building for all instruments in this truly easy holiday piece, A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson. (9:40)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Christmas Festival: Score 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 Concert Full Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
248
SKU:
00-PR-0001720
More about this title
About the Composer: Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) was an American composer and conductor whose gift for melody and orchestration made him one of the most performed composers in twentieth-century concert music. Self-taught in composition, Anderson created an enormous catalog of light orchestral works that balance sophisticated harmonic writing with immediate accessibility. His pieces became staples of pops concerts and school orchestras alike, prized for their wit, clarity, and genuine musical substance beneath their approachable surfaces.
Why we love this
Anderson's orchestration here is a masterclass in writing for young orchestras. Every section gets moments to shine without ever feeling overwhelmed, and the familiar carol melodies give students a musical anchor while they navigate his charming harmonic language. The piece rewards careful attention to balance and phrasing, making it ideal for building ensemble musicianship alongside holiday programming.
What to expect
A Christmas Festival radiates genuine warmth and nostalgia. The familiar carols emerge from Anderson's lush, gently rocking harmonic bed with the comfort of a candlelit room, while his rhythmic vitality keeps the piece from ever feeling sentimental or slow.
Who it's for
This score and parts suit orchestras at the intermediate level (Grade 3.5) with mixed instrumentation. Directors programming holiday concerts will find an arrangement that respects both the source melodies and student ability, offering enough musical substance to challenge developing musicians without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Bring out the unison passages as moments of clarity and unity. These sections give young players a chance to lock in together and should feel deliberate, never rushed.
- Shape the carol melodies with long-line phrasing rather than phrase-by-phrase articulation. Anderson expects singers' breath, not choppy articulation.
- Balance the varied section features carefully. When a particular instrumental group carries a melody or counter-melody, the rest of the ensemble must sit back to let it breathe.
- Pay attention to the overall arc over the full nine-and-a-half minutes. This is not background music; it needs direction and momentum from measure one.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece in a winter concert, ideally in the second half where its length and melodic generosity can anchor the evening. It pairs well with shorter standalone pieces on either side, and the uncut version rewards an audience that settles in for a complete musical statement rather than a quick holiday vignette.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing solo melodic lines against accompaniment figures
- Sustaining phrases across longer musical arcs
- Reading and executing unison passages with precision and ensemble unity
- Responding to sectional features and varied orchestral textures
- Maintaining rhythmic integrity through gentle swing and lift