A Classic Christmas Cover Image

A Classic Christmas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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A Classic Christmas Cover Image

A Classic Christmas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Featuring: Gloria (Vivaldi) / From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (Bach) / For Unto Us a Child Is Born (Handel) / Hallelujah Chorus (Handel)

Arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Item: 00-A-00015347

$27.99
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Description

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015347

More about this title

About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner studied music at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees before spending three decades as a high school music director and administrator in his native Chicago. Since 1973, he has published over 3,500 compositions and arrangements across multiple genres and ensembles, from choral and band works to pieces for orchestra, handbells, organ, and voice.

Wagner's music has circulated globally, reaching audiences through concert performances, broadcasts, and educational settings. With more than seventeen million copies of his work in circulation worldwide, he stands among the most performed contemporary composers in American schools and churches. He currently lives in Indianapolis.

Why we love this

Wagner's arrangements of familiar carols sit at that sweet spot between accessibility and musicality. The writing respects what makes these songs work while adding harmonic interest and independence to each voice part, so singers feel they're performing something fresh rather than simply reciting tradition.

What to expect

The arrangement honors the carol's timeless quality while the accompaniment adds warmth and contemporary polish. You get the comfort of a cherished melody paired with harmonic movement that feels both familiar and gently surprising.

Who it's for

This arrangement works for any choir seeking reliable Christmas repertoire with modest technical demands. Whether your singers are high schoolers, community choir members, or church volunteers, Wagner's straightforward voice writing and supportive harmonic language make this accessible without sacrificing musicality.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the recorded accompaniment carefully during rehearsals; use it to anchor intonation while building independence in the parts.
  • Shape the phrasing by thinking of text underlay as musical punctuation, not just syllable placement.
  • Let the recorded accompaniment guide your tempo choices during initial rehearsals, then find room for slight rubato in passages where the arrangement opens up.

How to use it

Program this as a mid-concert anchor piece where audiences need a moment of reflection and connection. It pairs well alongside other Wagner carols or as a palate-cleansing contrast to more modern holiday arrangements, giving your concert shape and emotional variety.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing over recorded accompaniment with secure intonation
  • Balancing individual voice parts within a fuller harmonic texture
  • Shaping familiar melodies with attention to text and phrase structure
  • Following ensemble blend adjustments when singing with digital accompaniment

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