Fantasy on a Burgundian Carol: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Story's setting respects the carol's character while giving concert bands a genuine holiday offering that doesn't rely on arrangements of overly familiar material. The scoring moves intelligently through varied textures, so players stay engaged and the piece never feels static, yet the Grade 3 accessibility means you can program it without overextending your ensemble.

The piece opens with the clarity of the traditional carol, then gradually unfolds into richer harmonic and rhythmic landscapes. There's a sense of discovery here rather than decoration; the arrangement honors the melody's simplicity while revealing the depth that lies within it.

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level looking for substantive holiday repertoire that sits comfortably within their technical range. Directors who want something more than a simplified arrangement but don't need the complexity of upper-level holiday works will find this particularly useful.

• Balance the melody across sections as it moves throughout the band; use sectional rehearsals to ensure the carol's shape remains clear even when inner voices thicken
• Pay attention to articulation changes between the simpler and intricate passages to highlight the textural contrasts Story creates
• Maintain steady tempo through the two-minute duration; let the variety in texture do the work rather than relying on tempo shifts

Ideal for winter concerts where you want a recognizable holiday tradition that demonstrates your ensemble's range and musicianship. At just two minutes, it pairs well with other seasonal offerings without dominating a full holiday set.

• Maintaining melodic clarity within varied ensemble textures
• Reading and executing articulation changes across multiple passages
• Balancing individual parts within a developing harmonic texture
• Intonation across different registrations of the same harmonic material