Angels We Have Heard on High: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

A groovy reinterpretation that keeps the carol's warm, familiar melody while wrapping it in a breezy Latin-swing hybrid. The piece moves with an easygoing confidence, never rushed, and the rhythmic twists make it feel polished and intentional rather than gimmicky.

Brass quintets at the medium level who want a Christmas program piece with rhythmic sophistication and contemporary flair. This arrangement works well for groups comfortable with ensemble blend and style awareness, rather than those still building fundamental intonation.

• Mark the measure numbers where the swing feel kicks in during your first read-through. Have the quintet tap the eighth-note subdivision together before playing to lock the transition points.
• Balance the ensemble so the melody line (likely in the trumpet) sits just above the harmony, allowing listeners to follow the familiar tune through the rhythmic changes.
• Work the swing eighth notes separately from the straight sections in sectionals; the contrast will feel awkward until muscle memory takes over.
• Consider adding the optional drum set part if you have a percussionist available; the rhythmic foundation will solidify the bossa and swing feels considerably.

Program this as a standalone brass feature in a holiday concert, or pair it with a more traditional choral arrangement of the same carol to create an interesting textural contrast within your winter season. It bridges formal holiday repertoire and popular jazz-influenced chamber music, making it ideal for mixed-genre programming.

• Transitioning between straight eighth notes and swing eighth notes
• Maintaining precise ensemble rhythm across style changes
• Voicing balanced harmony in a contemporary jazz idiom
• Responding to marked articulation and style cues in ensemble context