Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane / arr. James Swearingen
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001989
$67.00
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Description
Jim Swearingen, one of America's best known band writers, gives us the happiest of holiday greetings with a unique styling of this Christmas wish. Yes, you'll hear some jazz-influenced harmonies, balanced with classic concert band strengths. This arrangement is a holiday classic.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: 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:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
148
SKU:
00-PK-0001989
More about this title
About the Composer: Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin composed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with lyricist Ralph Blane for the 1944 film "Meet Me in St. Louis," where it became one of the most enduring holiday standards in American music. His gift for melody and harmonic sophistication shaped generations of popular song, and his work remains central to holiday programming across schools and concert halls.
Why we love this
Swearingen's arrangement captures what makes this melody so singable and memorable while adding jazz-influenced harmonic colors that feel fresh without overwhelming a Grade 3 ensemble. The balance between accessibility and sophistication means your band sounds polished and festive without requiring extensive rehearsal time on complex passages.
What to expect
Warm and gently swinging. This arrangement honors the tune's tenderness while adding harmonic surprise and color that keeps it from feeling overly sentimental. There's a subtle sophistication underneath the accessibility, giving musicians something genuinely interesting to play.
Who it's for
Concert band directors seeking a holiday repertoire piece that respects the skill level of a developing ensemble while delivering a performance audiences genuinely want to hear. Bands preparing winter concerts, holiday pops programs, or community performances will find this both manageable and musically satisfying.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the jazz harmonies carefully in the lower voices; they should enhance rather than muddy the tune's clarity.
- Let the melody breathe. This song thrives on a warm, unhurried tempo that honors its lyrical character.
- Blend sectional colors distinctly; the variety in voicing is part of what makes this arrangement distinctive, so clarity between parts matters more than blending everything into one wash.
- Shape phrases through dynamics rather than tempo changes. The written dynamics carry the emotional arc.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece of your holiday concert, or pair it with other seasonal works to create a set that mixes traditional and contemporary approaches to Christmas music. Its moderate length and bright finish make it an excellent closer for a pops concert or community performance.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing jazz voicings with traditional concert band sonority
- Phrasing a famous melody while supporting harmonic independence in other parts
- Controlling dynamics to shape longer musical lines
- Reading and executing articulation in jazz-influenced sections