Christmastime (arr. Joseph M. Martin) (Orchestration): Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00436904
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Description
"Christmastime" is a modern Christmas carol that has quickly become part of the standard holiday songbook. Dancing joyfully between a neoclassical "vibe" and a light jazz pop idiom, this piece pushes all the right buttons for a happy holiday moment in your concerts or worship services. The text celebrates bells and the inclusion of "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" adds a special sparkle. Present with piano only or full orchestra, or with the optional handbell part to open this anthem to even more possibilities! Yes! Score and Parts (fl 1-2/pic, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, btbn, timp, perc, chm, glock, harpsi/syn, hp, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a digital download. Part for Handbells (3-5 oct.) also available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00436904
More about this title
About the Arranger: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and later earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. His performing career has taken him across the United States and Mexico, including a featured appearance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra and performances at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to churches throughout North America. Though he continues to perform as a concert pianist, Martin has increasingly focused his creative energy on composing and arranging music for worship and choral settings.
Based in Austin, Texas, Martin has built a reputation for arrangements and compositions that speak to diverse musical contexts and audiences. His works have been heard in everything from concert halls to regional theaters to Sunday morning services, reflecting his deep commitment to accessible, engaging music making across multiple genres and settings.
Why we love this
Martin's arrangement captures the infectious energy of a modern carol while honoring the neoclassical and jazz pop elements that give it real personality. The inclusion of a Handbells option expands your programming flexibility significantly, and the quotation of "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" provides an instant moment of recognition that audiences adore. This is a piece that works equally well in a concert setting or a worship service, making it genuinely useful repertoire rather than a seasonal novelty.
What to expect
Christmastime bounces with genuine joy and rhythmic vitality. The writing dances between moments of neoclassical restraint and infectious pop groove, creating a piece that feels both thoughtful and celebratory. The bell imagery in the text combined with optional handbell orchestration creates shimmering, luminous moments that give this modern carol real sparkle.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves both church musicians and concert directors seeking contemporary Christmas music with substance. It works beautifully for choirs of varying sizes and skill levels, from smaller ensembles with piano to full orchestras, making it adaptable to your ensemble's instrumentation and performance context.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the rhythmic interplay between the "neoclassical vibe" and jazz idiom by letting your rhythm section (harpsi/syn, bass) anchor the groove without overwhelming the choir's melodic line.
- If performing with handbells, allow them space to ring clearly during their opening phrase; the bell sonority is a crucial textural element and shouldn't be buried under other instrumental voices.
- Shape the "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" moment as a genuine surprise. Slight tempo flexibility and crisp articulation in the accompanying voices will help that quotation land with fresh energy rather than feeling like a segue.
- Ensure your percussion and timpani attacks are unified and precise; the modern sensibility of this piece depends on clean rhythmic clarity.
How to use it
Slot this into the second half of a holiday concert where its contemporary spirit can lift the energy after more traditional repertoire. In a worship context, it serves as an excellent anthem for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services, especially when you can utilize the handbell option for maximum festive impact. The piece also works as a strong opener for a themed concert celebrating modern sacred music.
Skills your students will build
- Navigating mixed stylistic language (neoclassical and jazz pop idioms within a single piece)
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in contemporary harmonic contexts
- Balancing choir and instrumental parts in full orchestration
- Recognizing and executing stylistic quotations (the "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" reference)
- Ensemble coordination across diverse instrumental colors