Christmas in a Minute and a Half: 2nd Violin
Arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0017623_VN2
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Description
What would December concerts be without those familiar tunes that everyone loves to hear during that time of year? Here's a medley arranged by Douglas E. Wagner of a baker's dozen of some of the most recognized holiday tunes in the world, set in a fun, up-tempo style that is sure to be an audience hit. Even the violas get to play the melody!
The tunes (in presentation order) are: Good King Wenceslas * Deck the Hall * O Come, All Ye Faithful * Here We Come A-Caroling * Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * O Come, Little Children * Angels We Have Heard on High * We Three Kings * Now Is Born * Joy to the World * Jingle Bells * Up on the Housetop * and Hallelujah! Chorus. (1:30)
The tunes (in presentation order) are: Good King Wenceslas * Deck the Hall * O Come, All Ye Faithful * Here We Come A-Caroling * Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * O Come, Little Children * Angels We Have Heard on High * We Three Kings * Now Is Born * Joy to the World * Jingle Bells * Up on the Housetop * and Hallelujah! Chorus. (1:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Christmas in a Minute and a Half: 2nd Violin 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 String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
72
SKU:
00-PC-0017623_VN2
More about this title
About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner studied composition and music education at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. He spent three decades teaching and leading music programs in high schools before transitioning to full-time composition and arranging work.
Since 1973, Wagner has published over 3,500 compositions across virtually every ensemble type: choirs, concert bands, orchestras, handbell ensembles, organ, piano, and vocal music. His works have reached an estimated seventeen million performers worldwide and regularly appear in concert halls, broadcasts, and educational settings across the United States and internationally. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy.
Why we love this
Wagner's medley packs thirteen recognizable carols into ninety seconds of pure energy, making it an ideal opener or finale that connects instantly with audiences. The scoring ensures every section gets melodic moments, particularly the often-overlooked violas, so your entire ensemble feels engaged rather than relegated to accompaniment patterns. The Grade 1 writing is genuinely playable without sacrificing musicality, and the familiar material means students can focus on ensemble precision and stylistic clarity rather than learning complex new melodies.
What to expect
Cheerful and propulsive, this medley captures the rush and joy of the holiday season without settling into a slow, reverent pace. The up-tempo treatment gives even solemn carols like "O Come, All Ye Faithful" a bright, celebratory character that keeps the ear engaged through thirteen familiar tunes.
Who it's for
String orchestras in Grades 1-3 seeking a festive, high-energy December concert selection that plays well to mixed audiences of all ages. Directors working with developing ensembles will appreciate the accessibility of the writing alongside the satisfying sound that results from straightforward, well-crafted voicings.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo brisk and consistent throughout the medley; Wagner's arrangement relies on forward momentum to maintain audience energy across the thirteen tunes.
- Balance the frequent melody transfers between sections carefully, ensuring each instrument group has enough volume to project their melodic turn without drowning out the accompaniment.
- Attend to the transitions between tunes; mark them clearly in your parts so students understand where one carol ends and the next begins, especially in the faster sections.
How to use it
Open or close your winter concert with this crowd-pleaser to set a festive tone and send the audience out smiling. It pairs well with a slower, more introspective carol as a contrasting piece, allowing you to showcase both the energy and the expressive range of your young orchestra.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo across rapid melody transfers between parts
- Balancing melodic prominence with accompaniment in homophonic textures
- Reading flowing sixteenth-note passages at moderate tempo
- Executing clean articulation and style shifts within a single piece
- Precision in ensemble unison and octave doublings