Carols from the British Isles Cover Image

Carols from the British Isles: SAB Choral Octavo

$1.85 USD
$1.85 USD
Skip to product information
Carols from the British Isles Cover Image
Carols from the British Isles: SAB Choral Octavo

Carols from the British Isles: SAB Choral Octavo

Traditional Carols / words adapted by Charlotte Lee, arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Item: 00-41763
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$1.85
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Carols from the British Isles: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$34.99
View

Carols from the British Isles: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.85
View

Carols from the British Isles: SAB Choral Octavo

$1.85
View
Description
Four treasured carols from Wales, England, and Ireland comprise this colorfully arranged Christmas medley (three-and-a-half minutes in length). The slow-fast-slow-fast form is carefully constructed for choir alone, band alone, or a combined performance. An elegant and timeless treat for the holidays.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Carols from the British Isles: SAB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081468433
SKU: 00-41763

More about this title

About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner studied composition and music education at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. He spent three decades as a high school music director and administrator before transitioning to full-time composition work.

Since 1973, Wagner has published more than 3,500 titles across virtually every musical medium: choir, concert band, orchestra, handbell ensemble, organ, piano, and vocal music. His works have reached an estimated seventeen million performers worldwide and continue to appear regularly in concert halls, broadcasts, and festivals across the United States and internationally. Wagner lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy.

Why we love this

Wagner's careful construction of the slow-fast-slow-fast arch creates natural momentum without forcing the piece into an exhausting sprint. The SAB voicing sits comfortably in the middle of your choir's range while the optional band accompaniment gives you genuine flexibility in how you present it, whether as a standalone choral moment or as part of a larger festive blend.

What to expect

The medley unfolds with the grace of traditional carol singing but with orchestral sophistication in the harmonic language. Moving between contemplative and festive moods, it captures both the stillness of winter and the joy of celebration, feeling substantial enough for a concert centerpiece yet intimate in its arrangement for voices.

Who it's for

Directors programming Christmas concerts who need music that works equally well for small or large choirs and who appreciate the flexibility of pairing voices with or without instrumental support. This arrangement serves experienced high school and college choirs as well as strong community and church ensembles seeking substantial holiday repertoire that avoids sentimentality.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the three carol melodies clearly so each one registers distinctly; the arrangement's strength lies in how the familiar tunes interact, not in blending them into a unified texture.
  • Use the slower sections to establish warm, resonant tone before the tempo shifts; rushing the transition between movements will flatten the piece's architectural design.
  • If performing with band accompaniment, rehearse rhythm section and choir together early to lock the harmonic foundation, especially during the fast sections where ensemble precision matters most.

How to use it

Feature this as a standalone set piece within a larger Christmas concert, using the structural alternation between tempos as a programming anchor that gives shape to surrounding selections. The twelve-page length and clear sectional divisions also make it an effective opener or closer for a holiday program.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing multiple melodies within a single vocal line
  • Transitioning between contrasting tempos while maintaining phrase continuity
  • Singing three-part harmony with clear voice independence
  • Adjusting blend and dynamics across multiple carol melodic materials

You May Also Like