Have a Ragtime Jazzy Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A brass-forward celebration that swings hard without losing the warmth of holiday melodies. The Dixieland energy gives these familiar tunes new life, replacing sentimentality with joy and playfulness that can actually make an audience rise to their feet.

Bands at the 2.5 level ready to tackle swing style and syncopation without getting bogged down in complex ranges or extended passages. This works equally well for groups looking to shake up their holiday concert tradition or add a repertoire piece that stretches musicianship in specific, manageable ways.

• Keep the eighth-note swing consistent across the entire ensemble. Even brief moments where articulation loosens will flatten the whole groove.
• Balance the melodic line across sections as the arrangement moves through different instrumental groups. These tunes are recognizable only if the tune stays clear and present.
• Let the rhythm section breathe into the syncopation. If the drums and low brass lock in first, the upper voices will find the pocket naturally.
• The key changes between tunes create natural momentum; resist the urge to reset or pause between medley sections. Let the energy carry through each transition.

This is a natural concert closer for any December program, especially if you're programming more traditional holiday selections elsewhere. The contrasting style and unbridled energy offer relief and excitement after slower, more reverent pieces.

• Eighth-note swing articulation and interpretation
• Reading syncopated rhythmic figures across multiple parts
• Maintaining ensemble groove and pulse in non-straight-eighth contexts
• Voicing balance in a jazz-inflected arrangement
• Stylistic control when switching between tuneful melodies and rhythmic accompaniment figures