Jingle Bells Fantasy (arr. John Wasson): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by John Wasson
Grade: 4-5
Item: 35-PK01433185
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Description
John Wasson gives this timeless holiday carol a full blown symphonic treatment in this creative and masterful setting for mature ensembles. With wide-ranging style changes and surprising twists and turns, this is a guaranteed highlight of any holiday concert! Recorded by the Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin conducting from the album "Horns for the Holidays" on the Reference Recordings label.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01433185
More about this title
About the Arranger: John Wasson
John Wasson is a composer and arranger whose work has become central to the contemporary wind band repertoire. His settings for concert band and wind ensemble consistently demonstrate a gift for orchestration that maximizes the color and dynamic range of the medium while remaining deeply musical and accessible to performers at multiple levels.
Why we love this
Wasson's arrangement transforms a familiar tune into a vehicle for genuine musical storytelling. Rather than relying on surface-level festive energy, this setting moves through distinct and carefully crafted sections that keep audiences engaged while giving your ensemble real interpretive work to do. The Dallas Wind Symphony recording under Jerry Junkin proves the piece's power with a mature ensemble, offering a compelling model for your own interpretation.
What to expect
You move through a symphonic landscape that honors the carol's simplicity while revealing unexpected musical territory. Wasson's orchestration generates genuine drama and color; moments of brightness give way to reflective passages, building to statements that feel earned rather than imposed.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits bands at the upper intermediate level and above that want substantive holiday programming beyond novelty fare. Directors programming a winter concert will find a piece that respects their ensemble's capabilities while delivering the festive context audiences expect.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the style shifts as distinct musical episodes rather than interruptions. Each section earns its own character, and smooth transitions between them will require rehearsal attention to tempo relationships and articulation consistency.
- Balance the arrangement's orchestral density by listening carefully to the recorded reference. Wasson's scoring uses tutti moments strategically, so conversations between sections require clear voice leading and release discipline.
- Treat this as concert repertoire first and holiday music second. The piece demands the same interpretive depth you would bring to a contemporary band work, not a lighter touch typical of seasonal arrangements.
How to use it
Place this as a centerpiece of a winter concert rather than padding. The piece works particularly well in the second half of a program where your ensemble has warmed up and audiences are settled. It also pairs effectively with other substantial band works, bridging between classical repertoire and contemporary writing.
Skills your students will build
- Following stylistic shifts within a single piece
- Balancing independent voice lines within a dense orchestration
- Responding to specific articulation and release markings that shape phrase contour
- Performing controlled dynamics across the full range of the instrument