A Jazzy Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Johnnie Vinson
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00181946
$75.00
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Description
Traditional carols are not usually thought of in a swing style. Yet Johnnie Vinson has found a creative way to arrange these favorites in a light and appealing jazzy style. Includes: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy", and "Good King Wenceslas". Dur: 3:25
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00181946
More about this title
About the Arranger: Johnnie Vinson
Johnnie Vinson has established himself as a prolific arranger for concert band, known for bringing fresh interpretive angles to familiar material. His work balances accessibility with musicianship, making arrangements that bands at all levels can execute with confidence while still delivering genuine musicality.
Why we love this
Vinson's swing treatment of these carols strips away the reverent, straightforward approach most bands take to holiday music and replaces it with genuine rhythmic energy. The arrangement respects the Grade 3 level without condescending to it, giving every section meaningful material and a real chance to swing.
What to expect
The swinging rhythms and easy groove of these arrangements transform carols into something unexpectedly modern. Rather than solemn or sentimental, these readings feel warm and spirited, with the kind of rhythmic lift that makes a concert band sound sophisticated.
Who it's for
This works for concert bands seeking holiday repertoire that feels contemporary without abandoning tradition. It's ideal for ensembles looking to program something their audiences will recognize immediately, but with enough arrangement personality to make the band sound engaged and playful.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing feel early in rehearsals by having the rhythm section lock in first. The saxophones and trombones need to hear a solid rhythmic foundation before adding the melodic layers.
- Balance the soloists against the ensemble. These three carols offer moments where a section steps into the spotlight; resist the urge to overpower with tutti scoring when a saxophonist or trumpet player is featured.
- Keep the tempos conversational and relaxed. The jazz idiom thrives when the band plays with ease rather than precision, so encourage a looser attack and swing articulation throughout.
How to use it
Slot this into a holiday concert as the second or third piece to shift the mood and energy after more traditional selections. At just over three minutes, it sits perfectly as a bridge between heavier fare and a closer, or it can anchor an entire casual winter program alongside other contemporary treatments of seasonal music.
Skills your students will build
- Swing articulation and phrasing in a concert band context
- Reading and executing jazz comping rhythms
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in an ensemble
- Responding to section leadership and rhythmic cues from the rhythm section