Carol of the Bells: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

$15.00 USD

Carol of the Bells: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Name: Carol of the Bells: Brass Quintet Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 81-BQ225597
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mykola Leontovich / arr. Ryan Meeboer

Level: Medium

Item: 81-BQ225597

$15.00

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Unlike the original composition, this arrangement is written in common time and opens by setting up the feel of the tune with a descending bass line and accompanying chords. The chords need to have a smooth crescendo and should not get too strong to overpower the main tune. Measure 17 is to be played with lots of energy, but stay in control of tone. Written solos have been provided, but chords are also included in case performers would prefer to improvise a solo. As the chart progresses, it converts into its original metre of 3/4, creating a jazz waltz feel and builds to it final climax at measure 92. Optional Drum Set part is included.

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Series: Eighth Note Publications

Publisher: Eighth Note Publications

ISBN10: 1-77893-184-7

ISBN13: 978-1-77893-184-0

UPC: 685462031856

SKU: 81-BQ225597

More about this title

About the Composer: Mykola Leontovich

Mykola Leontovich (1877, 1921) was a Ukrainian composer and conductor whose works drew deeply from folk traditions of his homeland. His most enduring contribution to the choral and orchestral repertoire is Carol of the Bells, originally composed as a choral piece that has since become a seasonal standard across countless instrumental and vocal arrangements.

Leontovich's gift was his ability to capture the energy and character of Ukrainian folk music within sophisticated compositional structures. For music educators, his work remains valuable precisely because it combines accessibility with genuine musical substance, allowing students to engage with both traditional melody and thoughtful harmonic writing.

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Why we love this

Ryan Meeboer's arrangement transforms a familiar holiday classic into a vehicle for serious musicianship by layering the tune over supporting harmonic voices that demand real control. The shift from common time into a jazz waltz at measure 17 catches players and audiences off guard in the best way, and the optional drum set part gives you flexibility to match the energy level of your ensemble.

What to expect

The opening sits in a controlled, almost reverent space; the bass line and supporting harmonies create depth while the familiar melody stays clear and warm. When the meter shifts and the jazz waltz arrives, the piece suddenly breathes differently, becoming playful and rhythmically alive before building toward a powerful, energized finish.

Who it's for

Brass quintet ensembles at the intermediate level who want to program something listeners know while challenging themselves with arrangement sophistication and metric complexity. This works equally well for community brass groups, college non-majors ensembles, or advanced high school quintets looking for holiday season material with musical substance.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the descending bass line and chords underneath the melody with a slow, deliberate crescendo through the opening section. The supporting voices should remain transparent enough that the tune stays the focal point.
At measure 17, channel the energy surge without letting tone quality suffer. Brass quintet clarity matters more than volume.
If soloists choose to improvise over the written chord changes, ensure they stay grounded in the harmonic structure and match the dynamic level of the ensemble backdrop.
Treat the transition into 3/4 as a genuine tempo and feel shift. The jazz waltz character requires a different rhythmic lightness than the opening section.

How to use it

Program this as a mid-concert piece during holiday concerts when you want to offer the audience something recognizable without sacrificing musical interest. It also serves as a solid standalone feature for holiday events where you need both accessibility and ensemble polish on display.