Christmas Bossa Nova: 2nd Percussion
Traditional / arr. Ralph Ford
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0002147_PC2
$3.00
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Description
Driving bossa nova rhythms throughout the ensemble support the familiar holiday melody. Your students will be thrilled with such a unique treatment. The distinctive pulse will be enjoyed by all. (1:53)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Christmas Bossa Nova: 2nd Percussion comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
188
SKU:
00-PC-0002147_PC2
More about this title
About the Arranger: Ralph Ford
Ralph Ford has spent nearly three decades on university music faculty while building one of the most prolific careers in educational music publishing. His work spans composition, arranging, and conducting across orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band; he maintains an exclusive relationship with Belwin/Alfred Music with over 250 titles in worldwide circulation. Ford's versatility extends beyond the concert hall into broadcast and media production, where he has composed news packages for national networks, arranged jingles, and produced recordings across traditional and digital platforms.
Ford's career in arranging began at fifteen in Panama City, Florida, and deepened during his undergraduate years at Troy State University, where he directed the jazz ensemble and served as staff arranger for the band program. He earned his Master of Science degree in 1988 while teaching full-time and has since become a frequently commissioned composer whose work appears regularly on stages worldwide. His background conducting live musical productions and leading professional recording sessions informs the accessibility and playability of his educational scores.
Why we love this
Ford's bossa nova treatment of a familiar Christmas melody gives your ensemble a genuinely fresh number that doesn't rely on orchestral cliches or tired arrangements. The driving rhythmic pulse sits perfectly at Grade 1, making it accessible for beginning bands while maintaining enough textural interest that experienced ensembles enjoy performing it. Holiday concerts need pieces that audiences find surprising and delightful; this delivers both.
What to expect
Warm, rhythmically alive, and surprisingly sophisticated for its grade level. The bossa nova pulse gives the familiar melody a contemporary energy that feels celebratory without losing the melody's core recognition. Your audience will recognize the tune immediately and be delighted by how freshly it sounds.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands seeking a holiday piece with genuine personality and modern groove will find this ideal for winter programs. Directors looking for Grade 1 material that engages both players and audiences without talking down to either group should add this to their library.
How to get the most out of it
- Anchor the bossa nova pulse in your rhythm section first. Lock the bass line and snare/kick pattern before layering melodic voices so the groove feels organic rather than forced.
- Balance the melody so it sings above the accompaniment texture without drowning the rhythmic energy that makes this arrangement special.
- Keep the tempo steady and resist the urge to rush. The 1:53 duration relies on a consistent, confident pace that lets the bossa nova groove breathe.
- Emphasize the syncopated figures in supporting voices; they're what give this arrangement its character and distinguish it from a straight rendition.
How to use it
Program this as a lighter moment in your December concert, perhaps between heavier works to shift the mood and tempo. The sub-two-minute duration makes it perfect for a holiday pops set or as a bridge between traditional and contemporary seasonal repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady rhythmic pulse in syncopated accompaniment figures
- Balancing melodic line against driving accompaniment texture
- Reading and performing bossa nova rhythmic patterns
- Coordination between rhythm section and melodic voices
- Playing with consistent groove and swing feel appropriate to Latin-influenced jazz styles