Happy Holiday/White Christmas (arr. Ted Ricketts): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Irving Berlin / Arranged by Ted Ricketts
Grade: 3-4
Item: 35-PK00478885
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Description
Two classic songs by America's greatest songwriter are showcased in Ted Ricketts' newest arrangement for string groups. Ted's combination creates a great holiday mood with the light-hearted two-beat feel of "Happy Holiday," followed by the quintessential Christmas ballad. Christmas programming at its very best.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00478885
More about this title
About the Composer: Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin (1888-1989) shaped American popular music across eight decades with an output that seemed inexhaustible. A self-taught composer and lyricist, he wrote over 1,500 songs covering every genre from ragtime to film scores to Broadway standards. His melodies sit naturally in the voice and his lyrics capture emotional truth without sentimentality, which is why his work endures in both concert halls and living rooms.
Why we love this
Ricketts understands that holiday programming doesn't require saccharine arrangements. By pairing the playful two-beat swing of "Happy Holiday" with the emotional weight of "White Christmas," he gives directors a medley that satisfies both the audience's need for festive warmth and the orchestra's need for meaningful musical work. The Grade 3-4 writing sits at that sweet spot where students feel accomplished without drowning in technical demands.
What to expect
The opening sparkles with energy and humor, the kind of music that puts an audience in a generous mood. Then the arrangement settles into something tender and reflective, reminding listeners why "White Christmas" has remained embedded in the culture for over 75 years. Together they create a complete emotional arc.
Who it's for
Directors building a holiday concert that needs both accessibility and substance. This works equally well for community orchestras, school groups testing their musicianship at year's end, and chamber ensembles looking to add a full orchestration to their December rotation.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the two-beat feel in "Happy Holiday" with crisp articulation in the inner voices; let the melody breathe rather than rushing it.
- Balance the strings carefully during the transition between pieces. The shift from light-hearted to reflective requires a genuine tempo adjustment and a moment of silence to reset the room's energy.
- Bring out the counterline in the second strain of "White Christmas." Many student orchestras bury it, but it's what makes Ricketts' voicing lift off the page.
- Invest rehearsal time in intonation during the sustained chords in the ballad section; small tuning adjustments make the difference between competent and beautiful.
How to use it
Position this as the centerpiece of a holiday concert, perhaps opening your second half. It's substantial enough to anchor a program but short enough to leave room for soloists or choir features. The juxtaposition of the two songs also works beautifully in a thematic program exploring arrangements of standards.
Skills your students will build
- Executing swing articulation and two-beat phrasing
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in dense string textures
- Maintaining rhythmic independence in inner voices
- Shaping long lines with sustained bowing and tone control
- Managing tempo and character changes within a single work