Angels We Have Heard on High: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Del Borgo resists the urge to simply dress up a carol in basic harmony and call it done. He builds a piece around the familiar tune that actually rewards careful conducting and attentive playing, giving your ensemble something musically interesting to sink their teeth into while staying within Grade 1 reach.

Warm and celebratory without saccharine sweetness. The familiar carol anchors the piece while Del Borgo's additions create color and forward momentum, capturing the joy of the season through genuine musicianship rather than surface decoration.

String orchestra directors working with developing ensembles who want a holiday offering with real musical content. This works for programs that benefit from teaching potential beyond the standard caroling arrangement, and for conductors who value giving young players something substantive to prepare.

• Shape the phrasing of the carol melody to avoid it sounding square; even young musicians can learn to breathe together at logical phrase endings rather than every four measures.
• Balance accompanying parts carefully so the main tune emerges clearly without drowning out the harmonic support that gives the arrangement its depth.
• Use the added musical material as rehearsal moments to isolate and refine specific technical or ensemble skills before bringing the full piece together.

Include this in a winter or holiday concert where you want to program a familiar carol that will resonate with the audience while showcasing your ensemble's growing capabilities. The Grade 1 level makes it accessible early in the season, giving your group time to prepare a polished performance.

• Playing sustained harmonic accompaniment parts while tracking the melody
• Shaping phrases and phrasing breaths across entire musical statements
• Balancing ensemble texture to support rather than bury the main tune
• Managing tempo and rhythmic stability across varying musical sections