Fiesta on the Housetop: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Benjamin Hanby / arr. Brian Beck
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0007197
$48.00
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Description
Here is a very clever "South of the Border" setting of a familiar tune, making this festive holiday favorite even more fun for your beginners to play on their first concert. The Latin beat gives this setting a distinctive flair while allowing your percussionists to shine. (1:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fiesta on the Housetop: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PK-0007197
More about this title
About the Composer: Benjamin Hanby
Benjamin Hanby (1833-1867) was an American songwriter and composer best known for his Civil War-era songs and popular vocal music. Though his life was brief, he left an enduring mark on American songwriting with melodies that captured the spirit of his time. His work remains a staple in educational music settings for its accessibility and memorable character.
Why we love this
Brian Beck's arrangement transforms a familiar tune into something genuinely fresh by wrapping it in Latin rhythms and percussion color, giving young ensembles an arrangement that sounds far more sophisticated than its Grade 0.5 level suggests. The novelty approach keeps students engaged during holiday season rehearsals while the Latin feel offers a genuine departure from standard Christmas fare. Your percussionists get real material to work with here, not filler parts.
What to expect
Bright and playful, with a vacation-in-a-warm-climate energy that makes the familiar tune feel like a mini-getaway. The Latin percussion creates infectious forward motion that carries the band along, while the simple melody allows younger players to feel confident and musical.
Who it's for
New band directors and first-year concert bands looking for engaging, accessible holiday repertoire that doesn't feel condescending. This arrangement works equally well for winter pops concerts and holiday festivals where you need something fun but musically legitimate.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the Latin rhythm section early in rehearsals. Have your bass drum and low percussion establish the steady clave pattern while the rest of the band finds their groove against it.
- Balance the piccolo and upper woodwind line so the cheerful melody cuts through without sounding shrill. At this grade level, players often push too hard in the upper register.
- Keep the tempo brisk enough to maintain the festive energy, but not so fast that younger players lose the rhythmic character. The Latin feel depends on precise subdivision.
- Layer in percussion gradually. Start with just bass drum and one pitched percussion voice, then add triangle and cowbell cues so players hear how the parts interlock.
How to use it
Close out a winter concert with this energetic novelty number, or pair it with other Latin-flavored lighter pieces to create a themed set. The 1:15 runtime makes it ideal as a palate cleanser after a more serious work, and students love the instant gratification of sounding polished so quickly.
Skills your students will build
- Playing against a steady Latin clave rhythm pattern
- Balancing independent melodic lines with layered percussion parts
- Managing articulation and tone control in the upper register
- Reading straightforward concert band instrumentation at the Grade 0.5 level