A Christmas Suite: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Elliot Del Borgo
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PK-0000240
$62.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| A Christmas Suite: Score | $6.00 | |
| A Christmas Suite: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: Viola | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: Cello | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: String Bass | $5.99 | |
| A Christmas Suite: Piano Accompaniment | $5.99 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Four favorite carols are presented in this solid arrangement by Elliot Del Borgo. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" receive a traditional, yet creative treatment in this excellent holiday program selection.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Christmas Suite: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
144
SKU:
00-PK-0000240
More about this title
About the Arranger: Elliot Del Borgo
Elliot Del Borgo is a prolific composer and arranger whose work has become standard repertoire in school orchestras and bands across the country. With a gift for crafting accessible yet musically satisfying arrangements, Del Borgo has spent decades creating literature that allows young musicians to experience substantive music-making without excessive technical demands.
His arrangements balance respect for the original melodies with creative orchestration choices that engage all string voices. Del Borgo's understanding of school ensemble capabilities has made him a trusted voice in music education publishing.
Why we love this
Del Borgo's treatment of these four carols respects the melodies while adding harmonic interest and textural variety across the string sections. Grade 2 groups get to work with real arrangement techniques, countermelodies, divisi writing, and part independence, without the complexity that derails younger orchestras. This is holiday programming that doesn't feel like filler.
What to expect
Traditional carols dressed in fresh orchestral colors. The melodies remain recognizable and warm, yet each arrangement brings out details listeners might not notice in a basic piano-vocal version. These are carols that feel both familiar and reborn.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors programming a holiday concert who need repertoire that sounds polished and respectful without requiring advanced technique. This suite works equally well for middle school orchestras, community youth ensembles, or high school groups looking for accessible seasonal material.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the viola and cello lines carefully in the first piece; these voices often carry inner harmony that shouldn't fade into the background.
- Allow rubato in the carol arrangements while maintaining ensemble cohesion; a conductor's gentle hand will bring out the reverent character these melodies deserve.
- Use the dynamic contrasts between verses to build drama and sustain listener interest across the suite.
- Check intonation at tempo, especially in the slower movements where thin textures expose pitch inconsistencies.
How to use it
Program the suite as a standalone segment within a larger winter concert, or select individual carols to punctuate a mixed program. The Grade 2 difficulty also makes this useful early in the season for repertoire that builds ensemble sound without consuming rehearsal time on complex technique.
Skills your students will build
- Voicing transparency in four-part string textures
- Conducting and performing with appropriate rubato in sacred music
- Dynamic shaping and phrasing in arranged versus original contexts
- Ensemble blend across Grade 2 technical demands