A Christmas Intrada: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Reed structures this work as five distinct emotional snapshots of Christmas, each orchestrated for different instrumental combinations, which keeps players engaged and gives every section of your band a moment to shine. The piece moves without pause between sections, creating a compelling arc from hushed reverence to jubilant celebration, and the antiphonal brass writing in the finale is remarkably effective without requiring excessive resources. At Grade 4, it sits at exactly the right level: ambitious enough to challenge strong bands but playable by students still developing their foundational skills.

The piece unfolds like a series of scenes illuminated one by one: a glorious brass proclamation, then intimate peace as woodwinds settle into a gentle cradle song, then the stir of motion as different groups process together, then quiet devotion tinged with warmth, and finally a building surge of celebration that feels genuinely earned. Reed's orchestration pulls you through these shifts with clarity; you always know which instrument color is carrying the story.

Concert bands at the strong Grade 4 level, including high school groups ready to tackle music with layered textures and multiple ensemble combinations within a single work. Directors seeking a Christmas concert piece that goes beyond typical carols and offers genuine musical substance will find this invaluable; it's sophisticated enough to program for a festival contest yet festive enough for a holiday concert.

• Balance the Fanfare's brass chorale against chimes and bells in the opening; the percussion should outline the harmonic structure without overwhelming the brass sonority.
• Shape the Lullaby as a cohesive woodwind chorale, with careful attention to phrase breathing so it doesn't feel fragmented between the different instrumental groups carrying the melody.
• In the Processional, let the full band gradually build without forcing dynamics; Reed's orchestration naturally pulls toward a swell, so trust the texture more than the tempo.
• Reserve full energy for the Wassail and Alleluia finale, since the antiphonal brass exchanges need space and clarity to be heard as conversational.

Open a holiday concert with this work as your anchor piece, letting it set a tone that's both reverent and joyful. It also works well as a contest selection if your group appreciates music with clear sectional identity and opportunities to showcase different instrumental colors. Consider pairing it with shorter carols or contemporary Christmas settings to create a concert arc that moves from concert music to more familiar traditions.

• Balancing independent melodic lines across multiple instrumental choirs
• Executing precise dynamic contrasts between soft sustained chords and energetic rhythmic figures
• Responding to sectional cues and entry points when parts are often divided by instrument family
• Sustaining musical shape across long phrases in slower sections (Lullaby and Carol)
• Managing antiphonal (call-and-response) textures with rhythmic precision and spatial awareness