A Festival of Carols: 2nd Percussion
Featuring: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / While by My Sheep / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen / Still, Still, Still / Angels We Have Heard on High
Traditional Carols / arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Item: 00-PC-0014690_PC2
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Description
This incredibly versatile medley can be performed by chorus with piano, with brass ensemble and percussion, or with full or string orchestra. The alternate lyrics by Doug Wagner make these traditional carols fit in even the most discriminating school concert programs. If you're looking for that opportunity to combine all your ensembles on your holiday concert, A Festival of Carols provides the ideal solution. Includes: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "While by My Sheep I Watched at Night," "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen," "Pat-A-Pan," "Still, Still, Still," and "Angels We Have Heard on High."
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Festival of Carols: 2nd Percussion 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
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
224
SKU:
00-PC-0014690_PC2
More about this title
About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner brings three decades of high school music direction into his prolific work as a composer and arranger. A Butler University graduate with degrees in music, Wagner has published more than 3,500 titles across choral, band, orchestral, handbell, organ, piano, and vocal genres since 1973. His music reaches millions of performers annually; to date, well over seventeen million copies have been purchased worldwide.
Wagner's arrangements are known for their pedagogical thoughtfulness and practical flexibility. His works appear regularly in concert halls, broadcasts, and educational settings across the United States and internationally. He resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Why we love this
Wagner gives you genuine flexibility here without sacrificing musical integrity. You can perform this medley with your full orchestra, pare it down to strings, add brass and percussion, or pair it with your chorus and piano alone, depending on what you have available that year. The alternate lyrics ensure that these beloved carols fit your school's program philosophy without feeling like a compromise on the music itself.
What to expect
Warm and accessible, yet crafted with musical substance. These six traditional carols unfold with clarity and directness, allowing both singers and players to invest in the melodic content and textual meaning. The orchestration supports rather than overshadows, creating an inviting sound that feels both celebratory and reflective.
Who it's for
Music directors who need a single, elegant solution for bringing multiple ensembles together on a holiday concert. Whether you have a full orchestra, a chamber ensemble, or just want to feature your choir with orchestral color, this medley accommodates your specific instrumentation without requiring separate arrangements.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the soprano line in 'Angels We Have Heard on High,' where the text sits high and can easily overwhelm the inner voices; mark phrase arrivals carefully with your chorus.
- When combining multiple ensembles (orchestra and choir), establish a clear tempo in early rehearsals and rely on the conductor score to manage entrances across different sections.
- Let the orchestration breathe in quieter moments like 'While by My Sheep I Watched at Night'; resist the urge to rush these intimate passages.
- Rehearse the percussion parts early to ensure clarity on the rhythmic drive in 'Pat-A-Pan' and to lock the pulse with your strings or full ensemble.
How to use it
Position this as your festival finale or your opening statement if you want to showcase the full scope of your program at once. The medley format allows you to bring all performing groups together for a unified celebration, creating a memorable moment for your audience and a rewarding experience for students across ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Reading independent choral lines while following a conductor in orchestral context
- Balancing ensemble blend across multiple instrumental and vocal sections
- Interpreting alternate text while maintaining musical accuracy
- Sustaining phrasing and intonation across contrasting carol styles and tempos
- Responding to conductor cues and ensemble transitions in a large combined formation