Deck the Hall of the Mountain King: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Richard Meyer's arrangement captures genuine surprise and delight by juxtaposing two pieces with completely opposite moods and harmonic worlds. The structural clarity at this grade level makes it an excellent teaching tool for exploring how different musical materials can coexist and transform, and the addition of percussion gives younger orchestras a chance to contribute to the overall color without overwhelming the string core.

The opening feels festive and warm, but a darkening cloud rolls in as the minor-key Peer Gynt theme emerges. The contrast creates a playful sense of mischief rather than menace, and the final moments blend both worlds together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable.

This arrangement works best for intermediate string orchestras with solid note-reading skills and access to working percussion players. Directors seeking a holiday program piece that entertains audiences while genuinely developing musicianship will find this combination of recognizable material and musical craft especially valuable.

• Pay close attention to the balance between the two melodic lines when they appear simultaneously; the Welsh carol material should never disappear beneath the darker Grieg theme. Mark your score clearly about which section carries the principal melody in each phrase.
• Treat the tempo changes as character shifts rather than technical hurdles. Each transition between the cheerful carol tempo and the sinister mountain king section should feel intentional and dramatic, not rushed.
• Work the accidentals slowly in sectionals. Meyer's arrangement introduces chromatic inflections that students may not expect in holiday music, and catching these early prevents ensemble confusion during full rehearsals.
• Reserve the sleigh bells and crash cymbals for final run-throughs so their impact remains fresh for the concert. A single rehearsal with full percussion color is often more effective than multiple exposures.

Program this as a mid-concert piece to shift energy and mood, or anchor it as the centerpiece of a holiday concert that embraces both traditional and unexpected musical choices. The two-minute-ten-second length makes it ideal for pairing with longer works or placing strategically between formal and lighter selections.

• Reading accidentals in context (chromatic alterations within familiar melodies)
• Executing tempo changes and returning to original tempi
• Balancing between simultaneous melodic lines with different character and range
• Responding to conductor cueing during contrasting sections
• Listening for and maintaining ensemble cohesion across distinct musical materials