Holiday Mash-Up (as featured on Glee): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A warm, nostalgic opening blooms into infectious, toe-tapping rock energy. The piece swings between tender and exuberant, giving your band the satisfaction of playing both intimate and bold moments within the span of minutes. The Glee connection brings a modern sensibility that still honors the timeless appeal of both source melodies.

Concert bands at the intermediate level looking for a contemporary holiday selection with crossover appeal. This arrangement works for groups that want something recognizable and engaging without oversimplifying the musical writing.

• Balance the tender opening sections of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by bringing out the melody in the upper woodwinds while keeping accompanying voices warm but soft; this establishes the emotional contrast you'll need when the rock section hits.
• Anchor the "Jingle Bell Rock" section with a tight, grounded rhythm section; the percussion and lower brass drive the energy here, so lock in the pulse early in rehearsals.
• Use the tempo transition as a rehearsal checkpoint; practice the shift from the ballad feel to the rock groove separately before stitching the full arrangement together.
• Shape the dynamic arc across the full three and a half minutes so the piece doesn't plateau; plan where you'll build intensity and where you'll back off to reset before the final push.

This works beautifully as a closer or penultimate selection on a winter concert, offering the audience a familiar reset after heavier repertoire. It also pairs well with other contemporary pop arrangements if you're programming a mixed-genre concert, or can anchor an all-holiday program by providing both sophistication and entertainment value.

• Transitioning between contrasting tempos and styles within a single piece
• Sustaining lyrical phrase lines over multiple measures
• Locking tight rhythmic unisons in the rock section
• Balancing harmonic voices in a full-band texture
• Responding to sudden dynamic and articulation changes