Bass-ically Christmas: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Bass-ically Christmas: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Bass-ically Christmas: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-45862
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring: Jolly Old St. Nicholas / Jingle Bells

By James Lord Pierpont / arr. Bob Phillips

Grade: 2

Item: 00-45862

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This cute, simple arrangement features the bass section and makes them sound great! Have some fun with this cool medley featuring "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" and "Jingle Bells" that will brighten any holiday concert. Add props and attitude as the conclusion swings into the holidays with Bass-cally Christmas, arranged by Bob Phillips. (2:10)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Bass-ically Christmas: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 156

UPC: 038081529554

SKU: 00-45862

More about this title

About the Composer: James Lord Pierpont

James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) composed some of the most enduring holiday melodies in American music. "Jingle Bells," originally titled "The One Horse Open Sleigh," has become a global standard, while "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" reflects the 19th-century tradition of festive secular songs that families embraced during the winter season. Pierpont's gift for memorable, singable melodies made his compositions natural candidates for arrangement across ensembles and generations.

As a pianist and composer working in the mid-1800s, Pierpont understood how to craft tunes that stick with audiences and remain playable across skill levels. His holiday songs have transcended their original context to become teaching tools in music education, offering arrangers like Bob Phillips rich material to reimagine for orchestral settings.

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Why we love this

Bob Phillips strips away the complexity and puts the bass section front and center, a rare gift for lower strings that typically support rather than lead. The medley format lets you program something festive without eating up rehearsal time on intricate voicing or extended technique, and the arrangement's charm comes from attitude and orchestration, not difficulty. Your bass players get to own the holiday concert.

What to expect

Bouncy and warm, with a wink. The familiar melodies give the piece an immediate sense of joy, and the bass-focused orchestration adds personality and humor. The swing into the conclusion feels like the bass section is inviting everyone else to the party.

Who it's for

String orchestra conductors programming a Grade 2 holiday concert who want to feature the bass section as soloists rather than accompanists. Directors seeking a short, engaging arrangement that builds ensemble balance and confidence in lower strings while keeping rehearsal time manageable.

How to get the most out of it

Encourage the bass section to play with character and pride. These are famous melodies, and the bass line carries the personality; support them with clear, confident conducting that celebrates their role as storytellers, not accompaniment.
Balance the bass section so the melody reads clearly over supporting strings. Check sightlines during sectionals so violas and cellos aren't burying the bass voicing.
Use the props and attitude the description mentions as rehearsal language. Ask the bass players to imagine they're leading a sleigh ride or steering the holiday vibe; musical intention shapes tone and phrasing.
Keep the tempo steady and buoyant, especially in the swing conclusion. A rubato or dragging bass line will muddy the fun; lock in the pulse and let the bass section's rhythmic energy drive the piece forward.

How to use it

Place this near the end of a holiday concert as a palate cleanser or finale; its brevity (2:10) and upbeat character make it ideal for sending the audience home smiling. Use it alongside other Grade 2 holiday selections or as a standalone feature that keeps the program moving without requiring a major rehearsal commitment.