December Joy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$68.00 USD

December Joy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: December Joy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49561
Price: 68.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring: Deck the Hall / Here We Come A-Caroling / Jingle Bells

Traditional / arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Grade: 3

Item: 00-49561

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Arranged by Douglas E. Wagner, three well-known secular carol tunes are showcased in this big and brassy, bright and flashy seasonal extravaganza, especially suited as a concert opener.

Beginning with a cascade of chimes, soaring woodwind runs, and bold brass lines, "Deck the Hall" and "Here We Come A-Caroling" are presented with dynamic flair, interspersed with brief fanfare-like episodes. The mood transitions to a jaunting sleigh ride across the winter landscape, partnering the second time through with "Jingle Bells," as the spirited celebration closes with a short coda, drawn from musical materials heard in the opening measures of the work. (2:55) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, December Joy: Concert Band 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: Belwin Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-4890-3

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4890-9

UPC: 038081569680

SKU: 00-49561

More about this title

About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner began his career as a high school music director and administrator in the Chicago area, where he spent three decades building programs before transitioning to full-time composition. He holds degrees from Butler University and has become one of the most prolific composers in American music education, with over 3,500 published works spanning concert band, choir, orchestra, handbell, organ, and vocal literature.

Since 1973, Wagner's music has reached millions of performers and audiences worldwide. His arrangements and original compositions appear regularly in concert halls, on broadcasts, and in festivals across the United States and internationally. He now lives in Indianapolis with his wife Sandy, continuing a creative output that shows no signs of slowing.

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Why we love this

Wagner's gift for writing idiomatically for each section shines here. The brass sparkle without drowning out the woodwind runs, the chimes catch light in just the right moments, and the energy never feels forced. This opens a concert with genuine excitement rather than mere decoration.

What to expect

Imagine winter light catching the metallic gleam of chimes as the band launches into motion. There's gallantry in the brass, sparkle in the woodwinds, and that unmistakable joy of familiar carols transformed into something bigger and brighter. The sleigh ride section tosses you into motion, infectious and playful, before the opening material returns to close the celebration.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level who want a festive opener with substance and flash. The piece works equally well for holiday pops concerts and traditional December programming, giving younger ensembles a chance to play something energetic and fun without compromising musicianship.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening chime cascade so it cuts through without overwhelming the ensemble; a gentle touch on the mallets pays dividends.
Shape the woodwind runs as a single musical line, even when the material passes between instruments. Avoid treating them as technical showpieces.
Let the fanfare episodes breathe slightly; they serve as punctuation between the carol statements and need clear separation.
Keep the sleigh ride section crisp and rhythmically locked in the rhythm section. This swinging momentum is what sells the seasonal storytelling.

How to use it

Open your December concert with this piece and you've set a tone of celebration without veering into schmaltz. It pairs beautifully with more contemplative carol arrangements later in the program, or it can anchor a lighter pops-style set. The under-three-minute duration makes it perfect for concert flow.

Skills your students will build

Balancing multiple simultaneous melodic lines (carols, fanfares, accompaniment figures)
Precision articulation in rapid woodwind passage work
Maintaining rhythmic integrity through section transitions and tempo shifts
Shaping legit musical gestures within bright, energetic contexts
Reading and executing dynamic contrast within a high-energy arrangement