Holiday Snippets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0004567
$46.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This delightful holiday medley includes updated yet very playable settings of "The First Noel," "Good King Wenceslas" and "The Wassail Song," all linked together with bits and pieces of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (2:10)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Holiday Snippets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PK-0004567
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon's output shapes wind band repertoire at every level. His works appear on contest and concert programs internationally, and ensembles from middle school through professional ranks regularly perform his compositions. He co-authored Sound Innovations for Concert Band and has received honors from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP.
Sheldon maintains an active schedule as both composer and clinician, conducting All-State and Regional Honor Bands while presenting at universities and state music education conferences across the United States and abroad. His music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Why we love this
Sheldon strips away unnecessary complexity without sacrificing charm. Three beloved carols move through fresh harmonic colors and orchestration choices that keep even experienced players engaged, while the connective tissue of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' gives the piece architectural coherence. At Grade 1.5, this works equally well for early-season programming or young ensembles performing at winter concerts.
What to expect
Warm and nostalgic. The medley shape gives familiar carols room to breathe while maintaining forward motion; you hear why these melodies have endured centuries while experiencing them through a contemporary harmonic lens.
Who it's for
Early intermediate concert bands seeking a polished holiday selection that doesn't require months of rehearsal. Directors programming winter concerts for bands transitioning from fundamentals to actual repertoire will find this accessible without talking down to advancing musicians.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the sectional solos that emerge in each carol setting; let individual voices shine without overwhelming the harmonic foundation.
- Shape the transitions between carols as brief musical breaths rather than hard stops; continuity makes the medley feel intentional.
- Find the tempo sweet spot in the opening statement of 'The First Noel' so the subsequent carols sit comfortably at their own speeds without feeling rushed.
How to use it
Use this as an opening or closing concert selection at winter performances. Its modest length (just over 2 minutes) pairs naturally with one substantial contest piece or ballances a longer concert of mixed repertoire without eating rehearsal time.
Skills your students will build
- Playing compound meter (likely 6/8 if present in carol arrangements)
- Responding to dynamic and sectional changes within a single multi-part work
- Sustaining ensemble balance during melody statements across different instrumental families
- Reading parts written for concert band textures at the Grade 1 to 2 threshold