Hip Hop Merrily on High: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$90.00 USD

Hip Hop Merrily on High: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Hip Hop Merrily on High: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS263800
Price: 90.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gary Fagan

Grade: 3.5

Item: 98-RWS263800

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$90.00

Shipped

One moment…

Hip Hop Merrily On High takes the traditional carol "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and gives it a new twist by arranging it in a funk style. Contemporary rhythms and rock-style harmonies bring this carol to life, and students will love the syncopation. While there is a part for drum set, parts for a full percussion section are included as well. A funky bass line in one section allows the low brass and woodwinds to shine. An infectious cowbell part can be further "hammed up" by having several players hold up a "MORE COWBELL" sign. This piece will please both players and audiences.

Hip Hop Merrily on High: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

Series: RWS - Concert Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-8567-1

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-8567-6

UPC: 038081619569

SKU: 98-RWS263800

More about this title

About the Composer: Gary Fagan

Gary Fagan combines a deep background in music education with active work as a composer and arranger. He earned degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University, then spent 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County schools before transitioning to university supervision and adjunct teaching in arranging at JMU. His compositions and arrangements have reached audiences at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the White House, and gubernatorial ceremonies, establishing him as a respected voice in band music.

Recognized with multiple educator awards including selections from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts and the Piedmont Council of the Arts, Fagan remains active in clinician work, adjudication, and performance. He serves as Assistant Director and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band and holds memberships in ASCAP, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Fagan transforms a beloved carol into something your students will actually want to play. The funk rhythms and syncopated lines feel current and engaging, yet the piece remains accessible at grade 3.5, making it ideal for bands seeking contemporary holiday programming without sacrificing musicality or technical balance.

What to expect

Hip Hop Merrily on High bounces with modern energy while keeping the carol's melodic identity intact. The rock-style harmonies and syncopated rhythms create a party-like atmosphere that audiences recognize as distinctly contemporary, yet the piece never loses its seasonal warmth.

Who it's for

This arrangement works for concert bands at the intermediate level who want to program something with real personality for holiday concerts. Players across the band find engaging material here: the low brass and woodwinds get a memorable funk groove, percussionists play across multiple textures, and everyone benefits from tackling contemporary rhythmic language.

How to get the most out of it

Lock in the funky bass line section early in rehearsal. Have low brass and woodwinds work together to establish the groove before layering in other voices.
Emphasize the syncopation throughout. Mark the attacks clearly in rehearsal; students often want to straighten these rhythms, so consistent reinforcement pays dividends.
Lean into the cowbell fun. Give students permission to exaggerate the part, and consider the visual element of holding up signs mid-performance for audience engagement.
Balance the drum set part with your full percussion section. Both parts are written to coexist; neither should dominate the texture.

How to use it

Schedule this as a centerpiece for a holiday concert focused on fresh arrangements of classics. Its upbeat character and audience appeal make it an excellent opener or second piece that resets the mood after something more traditional. The visual comedy of the cowbell business also breaks up concert pacing effectively.