A Holiday Waltz: Viola
Featuring: Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas
By Richard Meyer
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0015516_VA1
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Description
"Jingle Bells" has been transformed into a Viennese-style waltz and combined with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in this charming selection perfect for your second-year players' holiday concert. In the keys of D and G major, this light-hearted dance features every section of the orchestra and reinforces hooked bowings, eighth note runs, and a variety of triple-meter rhythmic patterns. A fun and educational way to challenge your students technically, while taking your orchestra to that next level of maturity.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Holiday Waltz: Viola 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:
Highland/Etling String Explorer
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
72
SKU:
00-PC-0015516_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings in public schools, building the orchestra program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California from 29 students to 200. For 16 years he led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra and has guest-conducted All-State orchestras across multiple states, in addition to appearing as a clinician at ASTA's National Conference and regional string workshops.
Beyond the podium, Meyer is a prolific composer with over 190 published works and served 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, earned national recognition for using interactive concerts to serve special needs and underserved student populations throughout Southern California. He co-authored the String Explorer series and other foundational string resources widely used in music education.
Why we love this
Meyer understands exactly what second-year orchestras need: accessible keys and straightforward technical demands paired with genuine musical substance. The combination of two beloved carols arranged as a unified waltz gives students real melodic stakes while the hooked bowings and running eighth notes deliver concrete technique work without feeling like drill.
What to expect
The transformation of "Jingle Bells" into a Viennese waltz brings an elegant, slightly sophisticated quality to two carols your students already know. There is genuine lightness and charm here, not saccharine arrangement; the triple meter feels natural and dance-like, inviting the orchestra to move with rhythmic grace.
Who it's for
This score and parts set belongs in the hands of string orchestra directors working with Grade 1.5 ensembles ready to move beyond their first year fundamentals. Students need solid intonation and basic bowing independence but not yet advanced vibrato or complex string crossing.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady three-feel in rehearsal before tackling the meter. Use the conductor's beat to clarify when the piece moves between D and G major, and have students mark key signature changes in their parts.
- Balance the hooked bowings between legato phrasing and rhythmic clarity. Listen carefully for clean articulation without losing the dance-like quality that defines a waltz.
- Layer the orchestration gradually in early rehearsals. Have each section spotlight "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" separately, then combine sections to hear how Meyer voices the dual melodies.
How to use it
Use this as a centerpiece on a winter or holiday concert where you want to showcase technical growth without straying from the season's spirit. It pairs well with slower lyrical arrangements and can bridge between serious concert repertoire and seasonal fun, signaling to your audience that your orchestra has matured beyond simple single-carol presentations.
Skills your students will build
- hooked bowings in triple meter
- eighth-note passage work and rhythmic accuracy
- intonation and balance across D and G major keys
- counting and executing varied rhythmic patterns within 3/4 time
- ensemble listening and sectional independence