Holiday Cheers: Score
Featuring: Winter Wonderland / Sleigh Ride
By Dick Smith and Felix Bernard / arr. Victor López
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004355
$10.00
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Description
With shimmering trills, Holiday Cheers begins an adventure in sound for the holiday season. Every audience will be uplifted by this combination of "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride." Instant recognition is guaranteed as we go "walking through a winter wonderland" and proceed with a bracing musical ride on the horse-drawn sleigh. Here is a work that underscores all that is positive and right with music and the holiday season. (2:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Holiday Cheers: Score 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:
212
SKU:
00-PR-0004355
More about this title
About the Composer: Dick Smith
Dick Smith composed music across multiple genres and educational levels, earning recognition for his accessible arrangements and original works for concert band. His ability to craft pieces that engage both performers and audiences made him a valued contributor to the band repertoire, particularly in seasonal and pops programming.
Why we love this
Victor Lopez's arrangement threads two beloved melodies into a single, cohesive work without feeling forced or oversaturated. The Grade 3 scoring makes genuine musical storytelling available to developing bands, and the shimmering orchestration gives every section meaningful material to execute.
What to expect
The piece opens with delicate, crystalline shimmer that evokes fresh snow and winter light. From there, it shifts into the brisk, joyful gallop of a sleigh ride, building excitement while keeping the innocent charm of both melodies intact.
Who it's for
Band directors programming holiday concerts at the middle school and early high school level will find this arrangement energizing and accessible. Developing ensembles benefit from the Grade 3 difficulty without sacrificing musical reward, and audiences respond immediately to the familiar melodies.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening trills across woodwinds so they shimmer rather than overpower the melodic line; this transparency sets the festive tone immediately.
- Shape the transition between "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride" with a slight ritardando and renewed energy to signal the change of scene without breaking the overall arc.
- Keep the tempo steady during the brisk sections so the 'sleigh ride' momentum builds naturally; rushing will lose the playfulness Lopez built into the rhythmic figures.
- Layer the dynamics carefully in the full sections; even at forte, maintain clarity in the inner voices so the arrangement's texture remains active rather than muddy.
How to use it
Use this as your anchor pops number for a winter concert, or pair it with a classical holiday arrangement to create contrast between modern accessibility and traditional elegance. Its 2:30 length and immediate audience recognition make it effective as a concert closer or opener.
Skills your students will build
- Clarity and definition in articulation across sustained trills and tremolo figures
- Balancing ensemble texture when multiple melodic lines occur simultaneously
- Maintaining steady tempo through rhythmic acceleration and tempo changes
- Dynamic control and layering in fortissimo sections without loss of instrumental blend