Jingle Bells Boogie: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Ryan Meeboer's rockabilly arrangement captures the swagger and drive of 1950s rock and roll while keeping the melody front and center. The tuba's boogie bass line anchors the quintet with infectious energy, and the rhythmic interplay among the upper voices creates a genuinely fun performance experience that audiences recognize and enjoy. This is one of those arrangements where every player gets a satisfying musical role, not just accompaniment.

Swinging and propulsive, with the unmistakable bounce of 1950s rockabilly. The familiar melody rides effortlessly over a driving boogie foundation, creating an arrangement that feels both playful and musically substantial. This is the sound of a jukebox in a brass quintet.

Medium-level brass quintets looking for a holiday piece with genuine style and energy. This works equally well for high school ensembles, college non-majors groups, and community brass bands seeking accessible winter programming that doesn't sacrifice musicality or fun.

• Lock the tuba and trumpet 1 together early in rehearsal. The boogie bass line in the tuba is the heartbeat of this chart, so the lead trumpet needs to sit solidly on top of it rather than rushing ahead.
• Shape the rhythmic figures in trumpet 2, horn, and trombone with clarity and punch. These voices carry the guitar rhythms that define the rockabilly feel, so articulation and rhythmic precision matter more than legato.
• If adding the optional drum set, have the drummer listen to early recordings of Bill Haley and the Comets to capture the right swing and energy. The drums should propel rather than overshadow the brass quintet.
• Balance the melody so it sings over the rhythmic texture underneath. At medium level, younger players may not automatically manage this, so conductor cuing and sectional balancing are essential.

Program this as a standalone showpiece in a winter or holiday concert, or pair it with a more traditional arrangement of the same melody to highlight how differently a single tune can be imagined. It works particularly well in mixed programs that aren't exclusively classical, and it's substantial enough to hold its own alongside other medium-level repertoire.

• Playing and sustaining boogie bass lines with rhythmic precision and consistency
• Balancing a solo line against rhythmic accompaniment figures
• Interpreting and executing swing-influenced articulation and phrasing
• Coordinating complex rhythmic figures among multiple voices in an ensemble
• Reading and performing in a popular music idiom (rockabilly style)