Good King Wence-SALSA!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$90.00 USD

Good King Wence-SALSA!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Good King Wence-SALSA!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1442
Price: 90.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Arranged by Erik Morales

Grade: 3

Item: 98-B1442

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Absolutely stunning! This salsa-style arrangement of Good King Wenceslas includes a wealth of Latin percussion, authentic harmonies, and a ton of fun! With opportunities for the band to sing, a Latin-style flute solo, and a mesmerizing orchestration, this arrangement is sure to be the highlight of your next program. This just may be the best arrangement you have ever played!

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Series: FJH Concert Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398226955

SKU: 98-B1442

More about this title

About the Composer: Erik Morales

Erik Morales was born in New York City in 1966 and has spent his career bridging the gap between serious compositional craft and accessible educational music. A trumpeter by training, he studied composition at Florida International University and earned his degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1989. His arranging work began immediately after high school when a former band director invited him to create music for marching band, a door that opened into decades of publishing success.

With more than 150 published works across classical, jazz, and commercial styles, Morales has established himself as a composer who understands what makes music work in real ensemble settings. His trumpet works have earned recognition at national competitions, and his commissions from schools and organizations across the country speak to his reputation for balancing artistic integrity with teachable content. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures the infectious energy of salsa without sacrificing the carol's essential identity. Grade 3 bands rarely get to play genuinely compelling Latin music with this level of orchestration and harmonic sophistication, and the built-in moments for singing and featured flute solos give every section something memorable to do.

What to expect

Pure joy and movement. The arrangement breathes with the syncopation and warmth of Caribbean music, transforming a medieval carol into something that makes audiences smile and tap their feet. There's a lightness here, a playfulness that reminds everyone why we play music together.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level looking for holiday repertoire that genuinely excites students. This works equally well for groups seeking to expand beyond traditional Christmas fare and bands that want their winter concert to stand out with something contemporary and rhythmically engaging.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the clave rhythm in your percussion section early in rehearsals. Every player needs to feel that pulse underneath, not just keep time.
Balance the Latin percussion carefully so it drives the energy without drowning out the wind parts. These colors should enhance, not compete.
Encourage your singers to commit fully to the lyrics and groove. Hesitation kills the salsa feel faster than anything else.
Use the accompaniment recording to develop groove and phrasing rather than relying on it to cover ensemble balance issues. Rehearse the band as if the recorded tracks weren't there.

How to use it

Program this as a closing number on a holiday concert to send audiences out in a celebratory mood. It also works beautifully as a contrast piece on a concert mixing traditional and contemporary repertoire, or as the anchor of a "pops and classics" second half that keeps energy high.