Angels We Have Heard on High: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Del Borgo resists the temptation to strip this beloved carol down to its bare bones. Instead, he weaves in contrasting sections and musical ideas that give your students something genuine to interpret and shape, transforming what could be a straightforward holiday filler into a piece worth rehearsing seriously. At Grade 1, that's refreshing.

Warm and inviting, with moments of genuine lyrical beauty beneath the familiar carol. The added musical material gives the piece architectural shape and forward momentum that keeps young players engaged throughout.

Beginning string orchestras ready to program holiday music that doesn't insult their growing musicianship. Directors seeking a Grade 1 piece with enough textural variety and musical purpose to justify substantial rehearsal time rather than last-minute polishing.

• Balance the melody line across your first and second violins so the carol remains immediately recognizable while allowing both sections active roles in shaping phrases.
• Anchor the accompaniment parts with clear leadership from your cellos and basses; young string players respond well to the security of a grounded harmonic foundation.
• Take time during rehearsal to discuss which sections feel celebratory versus contemplative, then ask students to adjust their tone and dynamics accordingly rather than playing everything at face value.

Slot this into a December concert alongside other seasonal repertoire, using it as an anchor piece that lets the rest of your program breathe around it. The substantial nature of the arrangement means it works equally well as a standalone feature or as part of a holiday medley format.

• Shaping melodic phrases across longer lines
• Listening to independent parts while tracking the overall harmonic movement
• Maintaining consistent tone while accompanying a featured melodic line
• Responding to expressive direction changes within a Grade 1 context