Journey of the Magi: Concert Band Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

Journey of the Magi: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Journey of the Magi: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-48130S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

"What Star Is This?" and "We Three Kings"

Traditional / arr. Jared Barnes

Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-48130S

$9.00

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Explore the wonder and excitement of the holiday season with this arrangement of two traditional magi carols---"What Star is This?" and "We Three Kings." This title available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Young Symphonic

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 24

UPC: 038081555348

SKU: 00-48130S

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jared Barnes

Jared Barnes teaches instrumental music across grades 5, 12 in Iowa, where his bands consistently earn Division I ratings at state festivals and have twice been named the Class 1A High School Honor Band. His compositions and arrangements have traveled far beyond the Midwest, earning recognition on Stanton's Five Star Feature, J.W. Pepper's Editors' Choice, and Bandworld's Top 100 lists, with performances at honor bands and festivals nationwide.

A graduate of Wartburg College's music education program, Barnes writes with a clear sense of what works on the concert stage and in the rehearsal room. His music appears regularly at the Midwest Clinic and speaks to conductors who value accessible scoring that doesn't sacrifice musical substance.

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Why we love this

Barnes treats these two beloved magi carols as equal partners, weaving them together without losing either melody's character. At Grade 2.5, the scoring sits exactly where a mid-level band can sound polished without drowning in technical demands, leaving rehearsal time for shaping phrases and building ensemble sound rather than untangling parts.

What to expect

Reverent yet celebratory, these carols feel like a journey unfolding rather than two separate pieces. The arrangement respects the hymn-like dignity of both melodies while making room for the concert band's natural brightness, creating a performance that feels both traditional and fresh.

Who it's for

Holiday concerts with ensemble sizes of all shapes benefit from reliable, musical arrangements of familiar material. This title serves Grade 2 through early Grade 3 bands well, but experience matters more than skill level here; mature players at lower levels will deliver a strong performance.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the two melodies carefully in passages where they interweave; conductors often need to remind students which tune is the primary voice and which provides counterpoint rather than competing for attention.
The traditional carol context invites a thoughtful tempo; resist the urge to rush through these melodies even though the writing sits comfortably under the fingers.
Emphasize clarity in the harmonization during key changes between the two tunes; a clean transition between 'What Star is This?' and 'We Three Kings' depends on the ensemble's sense of forward motion.

How to use it

Pair this with a lighter opening number and a stronger closer to build a balanced first half of a winter concert. The 24-page score indicates substantial musical content, making it substantial enough to anchor a holiday program without requiring an entire half devoted to caroling.