Christmas Duets for All: Alto Saxophone (E-flat Saxes & E-flat Clarinets) Book

Warm, accessible, and genuinely festive. These arrangements embrace the contemplative moments of carols like Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem while celebrating the joy in livelier pieces like Deck the Halls and Good King Wenceslas. The straightforward voicing lets players focus on blend and intonation instead of wrestling with technical obstacles.

Alto saxophonists and E-flat clarinetists in middle and high school concert bands, as well as private studio teachers working with duet-level students. Directors can use this book across ability levels since the duet format allows for pairing by skill rather than by part.

• Balance the two parts by playing from the written parts themselves rather than assuming one voice should dominate. Listen across both lines to hear how they weave together.
• Take the tempo from the melody part when the pieces shift between sections. Communication between players matters more than a metronome here.
• Approach the less familiar carols (like Il Est Né and A La Media Noche) by learning them slowly first. The unfamiliar text-painting in these pieces rewards attention to phrasing.
• Use these duets in sectionals to build confidence in reading mixed meters and key signatures without the pressure of a full ensemble sound.

Reserve a section of your winter concert for a dedicated alto saxophone and clarinet showcase, pairing duets from this book with full ensemble pieces. The collection also works brilliantly in a sectional setting as a sight-reading tool or as the centerpiece for a holiday pep band rehearsal where mixed instrumentation can rotate through like-instrument combinations.

• Reading in multiple keys (including flats and sharps up to 4 sharps/flats)
• Balancing two-part harmony and listening across voice parts
• Blend and intonation adjustment in chamber settings
• Sight-reading at moderate tempos with minimal rehearsal
• Ensemble communication without a conductor