Deck the Halls: Score
Traditional Welsh / arr. Elliot Del Borgo
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PR-0002243
$6.00
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Description
All the holiday cheer with characteristic DelBorgo flavor. The melody is initially stated in a traditional manner and develops to incorporate contemporary harmonies and rhythms. This appealing arrangement will certainly be a crowd pleaser.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Deck the Halls: Score 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:
Belwin Beginning String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
138
SKU:
00-PR-0002243
More about this title
About the Arranger: Elliot Del Borgo
Elliot Del Borgo has spent decades crafting accessible arrangements and original compositions for young musicians, earning respect across music education for his ability to write for developing ensembles without sacrificing musical interest. His work balances technical clarity with genuine compositional craft, making him a trusted voice in the beginner and intermediate string orchestra repertoire.
Del Borgo understands what early string players need: clear part writing, logical progressions, and material that sounds mature without demanding virtuosity. His arrangements frequently appear on honor orchestra and festival programs precisely because they deliver both pedagogical value and satisfying musical results.
Why we love this
Del Borgo avoids the trap of treating a Grade 1 arrangement as simple window dressing. The choice to begin with a straightforward statement and then layer contemporary harmonic and rhythmic color gives your students something to grow into during rehearsal, and audiences will hear the arc of the piece rather than just a familiar tune. This is the kind of arrangement that lets a young orchestra sound genuinely polished.
What to expect
Warm and approachable at first, gradually unfolding into something fresher and more contemporary without losing the carol's fundamental character. The DelBorgo touch means you get comfort and surprise in the same package.
Who it's for
Any string orchestra program looking for accessible holiday material that doesn't rely on nostalgia alone. This arrangement works equally well for young players encountering the piece for the first time and for established groups needing solid seasonal programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the traditional melody statement in the opening section with warm, singing tone; use this passage to set the ensemble's intonation standard before the texture becomes richer.
- When the contemporary harmonies enter, bring clarity to the harmonic movement by slightly balancing the inner voices; resist the urge to let the thicker chords muddy into one sound.
- Let the rhythm section (cellos and basses) anchor the contemporary rhythmic figures; a clear pulse here prevents the newer elements from feeling rushed or uncertain.
How to use it
Slot this into a winter concert as a palate-cleanser between heavier works, or use it to open a holiday program and immediately establish a festive mood without camp. The Grade 1 difficulty makes it ideal for a mixed-level community or school concert where you want meaningful holiday representation from your developing players.
Skills your students will build
- Playing through key changes from traditional to contemporary harmonic contexts
- Maintaining rhythmic independence when pulse shifts from straightforward to syncopated figures
- Balancing melody and inner harmony in evolving textural arrangements
- Responding to conductor direction through contrasting musical sections