Angels We Have Heard on High: Score
Traditional French Christmas Carol / arr. Michael Story
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006893
$9.00
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Description
This arrangement of the popular French Christmas carol, Angels We Have Heard on High by Michael Story, has been written for students halfway through their first year in band. It has been scored using just the first few notes presented in most beginning band methods, only quarter, half, and whole note rhythms in the winds, and without a written key signature. (1:50)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Angels We Have Heard on High: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Very Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
80
SKU:
00-PR-0006893
More about this title
About the Arranger: Michael Story
Michael Story has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger for beginning and intermediate band students, with a catalog that prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing musicality. His arrangements are known for respecting the technical constraints of young players while delivering pieces that sound complete and satisfying in performance.
Why we love this
Michael Story understands exactly what mid-first-year students can handle, and this arrangement proves it. He takes a melody everyone recognizes and strips away the complexity, using only the notes beginning band methods introduce in the first months, yet the piece never feels thin or rushed. Your students will hear themselves play a real, recognizable carol.
What to expect
The piece has the warmth and reverence of a carol without the denseness of fuller arrangements. The whole note and half note rhythms create space for the melody to breathe, and the familiar tune carries its own emotional weight. Students will recognize they are playing something real.
Who it's for
This arrangement is designed for concert bands in the first half of their first year, when students have learned only basic note reading and simple rhythms but are ready to play recognizable music together. It works equally well for mixed-ability groups or bands with a younger average age where technical demands must remain minimal.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo steady at around quarter note equals 88-96 bpm to maintain clarity; students still building rhythmic independence will benefit from your consistent pulse.
- Balance the melody across your clarinet and trumpet sections rather than doubling it heavily; this lets younger players hear themselves and builds confidence in exposed lines.
- Encourage the percussion section to play with restraint, especially on the brushed accompaniment figures, so they support rather than overshadow the winds.
- Work dynamics by section before combining; many mid-first-year students are still managing the mechanics of their instruments and benefit from drilling their part separately first.
How to use it
Place this on a winter or holiday concert as a standalone feature or as a bridge piece between your more technical demands. It also serves as a confidence builder mid-rehearsal season when first-year students need a musical success before tackling more complex material.
Skills your students will build
- Reading simplified notation without a key signature
- Sustaining whole notes and half notes with consistent tone
- Balancing a simple ensemble texture with proper sectional balance
- Playing a recognized melody with appropriate musicality and phrasing