It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Score: String Orchestra
Arranged by Erik Morales
Grade: 3.5;4
Item: 98-DST6297S
$5.00
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Description
Warmth will emanate from your stage as your students perform this holiday classic that includes an optional drum set part in a jazz waltz style. The music continues to build into a glorious key change that moves into a stunning conclusion. A sure-fire crowd pleaser and concert favorite!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6297S
More about this title
About the Arranger: Erik Morales
Erik Morales built his compositional career on a foundation of accessibility and craftsmanship. Beginning with high school marching band arrangements in 1985, he developed a keen ear for what works in an educational setting while maintaining genuine artistic merit. His output spans over 150 published works across wind, orchestral, jazz, and chamber settings, with particular distinction in trumpet literature; his concertos and ensemble pieces have garnered recognition at major competitions and conferences nationwide.
Formally trained at Florida International University and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Morales has spent his career balancing the demands of artistic expression with pedagogical responsibility. Schools and organizations regularly commission new works from him, and his music has been performed across the globe. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame, a testament to his sustained contributions to American educational music.
Why we love this
Morales has a gift for taking familiar melodies and reimagining them without losing what makes them beloved in the first place. The optional jazz waltz drum set part gives you room to scale the sophistication of the arrangement based on your ensemble's strengths, while the strategic key change provides genuine musical payoff rather than a cheap trick. It's the kind of piece that builds genuine excitement in rehearsal because the students can hear the sound improving week by week.
What to expect
Warmth builds gradually as the familiar melody unfolds, punctuated by jazz waltz rhythms that add sophistication without requiring your students to reinvent their technique. The key change feels inevitable rather than forced, lifting the piece into a brighter finish that leaves audiences genuinely moved rather than merely entertained.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level who want a crowd-pleasing holiday offering with musical substance. The arrangement works equally well for a full orchestra with optional percussion or as a leaner string-only performance, giving you flexibility based on your instrumentation.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening with space and restraint so the key change lands with real impact; resist the urge to push dynamics early in the piece.
- If you're using the drum set part, lock it in during sectionals with your strings first so everyone's clear on the pulse before combining forces.
- Balance the optional percussion carefully against the strings; this arrangement shines when the holiday sparkle enhances rather than overshadows the melody.
How to use it
Slot this into the second half of your holiday concert where energy can build toward the finale, or use it as an opener if you want to establish goodwill and set a festive tone immediately. The accessibility of the material means rehearsal time stays efficient, leaving bandwidth for more challenging repertoire elsewhere on the program.
Skills your students will build
- Voicing adjustments in key changes (maintaining balance and blend when moving between tonal centers)
- Rhythmic independence with optional jazz waltz accompaniment
- Dynamic contrast and narrative pacing across a multi-sectional piece
- Stylistic adaptation (orchestral vs. jazz idioms within a single arrangement)