Christmas Time Is Here: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$51.00 USD

Christmas Time Is Here: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Christmas Time Is Here: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-SO9903
Price: 51.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Bob Cerulli

Grade: 1

Item: 00-SO9903

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One moment…

It's the holiday season, and here they come again, scampering across TV screens all over the world: Charlie Brown and his loveable little friends. All of your audience members will recognize the melody and be completely charmed by this very easy-play, quick-rehearsing Bob Cerulli arrangement. It adds the proverbial "warm and fuzzy" to your holiday concert programming. (2:23)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Christmas Time Is Here: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Pop Beginning String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 64

UPC: 029156989489

SKU: 00-SO9903

More about this title

About the Arranger: Bob Cerulli

Bob Cerulli brings both deep orchestral experience and classroom expertise to his arrangements. A bassist who performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic and served as principal bass for multiple regional orchestras, he also collaborated with celebrated composers including Henry Mancini and Michel LeGrand, and recorded with numerous popular artists. His own compositions have been performed by Philadelphia Orchestra musicians, including his Romance in D Major, which was written for the orchestra's principal cellist.

Cerulli's three decades teaching music in public schools shaped his understanding of what students need to play and what audiences want to hear. He studied at Curtis Institute of Music, earned degrees in music education and conducting, and continues to mentor musicians as a Senior Adjunct Professor at Rowan College at Burlington County, where he also conducts festival orchestra reading sessions.

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Why we love this

Cerulli's arrangement captures exactly what makes this melody enduring: simplicity paired with genuine warmth. Grade 1 accessibility does not mean thin or superficial here. The writing respects young string players' abilities while delivering an arrangement that sounds full and intentional, making rehearsals feel productive rather than remedial. Your audience will recognize the tune instantly, and you'll have a crowd-pleaser that requires minimal rehearsal time.

What to expect

The melody carries that unmistakable Vince Guaraldi warmth: gentle, reflective, and quietly joyful. Cerulli's Grade 1 voicing preserves that nostalgic quality while keeping the arrangement spacious enough that younger players can breathe and listen to one another. It feels like sitting by a window on a winter evening, watching snow fall.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the beginning level who need a holiday selection that actually sounds good on stage without demanding weeks of rehearsal. This works for school orchestras, community string programs, and youth ensembles seeking genuine audience appeal without compromising student experience.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the pulse steady and unrushed; the melody's charm depends on a natural, unhurried tempo rather than mechanical precision.
Balance the melody between first and second violins so the tune sings clearly without drowning out the harmonic foundation underneath.
Let the violas and cellos establish a warm harmonic foundation; their gentle support is what creates that nostalgic, cozy feeling.
Use the recording as a reference for tone quality and phrasing, not as a tempo target; your ensemble's character matters more than matching a click.

How to use it

Place this as an opening number to set a warm, inviting tone for a holiday concert, or tuck it into the middle of your program as a palate-cleanser between heavier works. With a runtime of 2:23, it fits naturally between longer selections without feeling rushed. This is also a smart choice for young orchestras making their first public appearance of the season.

Skills your students will build

Playing with a sustained, singing tone across phrase lines
Listening to and supporting ensemble balance and intonation
Responding to slight tempo and expression shaping without losing rhythmic stability
Coordinating bow changes to maintain legato through harmonic changes