Christmas Lights: Bells
Arranged by Chris Sharp
Grade: 4
Item: 98-PC-DB1563_B
$7.00
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Description
Celebrate the holidays in classical/rock fusion style with this clever medley of carols that also includes optional electric guitar! Inspired by the computer-controlled holiday lighting displays set to driving rock "soundtracks," the music draws inspiration from the likes of Mannheim Steamroller and The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Featuring Carol of the Bells, Coventry Carol, Toyland and Good Christian Men, Rejoice, this is the perfect way to close your concert, especially if you decide to let your electric guitar player loose!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Christmas Lights: Bells 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:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1563_B
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris Sharp
Chris Sharp holds a Ph.D. and brings three decades of professional composition and orchestration experience to his work. A trombonist who spent eleven years as a performing musician and bandleader at Walt Disney World, he has since arranged and orchestrated music for Disney parks globally, creating music for live entertainment, recordings, and national broadcasts. His freelance work spans Universal Studios, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Boston Pops, the Dallas Brass, and military ensembles including the USAF Airmen of Note.
Sharp holds faculty positions at Polk State College, where he directs the band program and teaches music theory, technology, and arranging. His compositions and arrangements for concert and jazz band receive frequent performances at major festivals including the Midwest Clinic. He has adjudicated for Bands of America and Drum Corps International, earned multiple ASCAP Plus awards, and maintains an active schedule as a clinician and guest conductor.
Why we love this
Sharp's work in theme park entertainment shines through here: the arrangement knows exactly how to energize an audience and build momentum across multiple familiar melodies. The optional electric guitar transforms this from standard holiday fare into genuine contemporary pops programming that honors the source material while delivering the kind of driving, modern energy that lands with both students and audiences. It's the perfect closer because it feels current without sacrificing musicality.
What to expect
Driving, contemporary, and undeniably festive. The rock underpinning gives each carol fresh momentum while the classical melodies ground the energy in something recognizable and touching. The result feels like holiday lighting synchronized to live music: controlled excitement with genuine musicality.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves Grade 4 concert bands with confident rhythm sections and solid melody players who can navigate a contemporary style. Directors seeking a closing piece that energizes audiences without veering into novelty will find a sophisticated take on holiday pops here. It works especially well for programs where you want to showcase modern ensemble playing while celebrating familiar repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the rock rhythmic drive in the rhythm section against the clarity of your melody lines so carols stay recognizable even at an energetic tempo.
- If using the optional electric guitar, rehearse it separately with your woodwind and brass sections to lock the synchronization of the syncopated passages.
- Shape the transitions between carols deliberately; each shift should feel intentional rather than abrupt, even at faster tempos.
- Let percussion articulation breathe throughout; the rock aesthetic invites crisp attacks, but allow sustained harmony to sing underneath.
How to use it
Close your winter or holiday concert with this piece to leave audiences with something immediately gratifying and modern-sounding. Its Grade 4 difficulty makes it accessible for late-season rehearsal while the electric guitar option lets you program accordingly based on your ensemble's instrumentation. Consider pairing it with more traditional holiday selections earlier in the program to create a stylistic arc that builds toward this contemporary finale.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing driving rock rhythms with lyrical melodic content
- Navigating syncopated ensemble passages at energetic tempos
- Executing smooth transitions between distinct melodic sections
- Adapting articulation and phrasing to a contemporary popular music idiom
- Synchronizing with optional electric guitar as a soloistic voice within the ensemble