Journey of the Magi: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
"What Star Is This?" and "We Three Kings"
Traditional / arr. Jared Barnes
Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0008148
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Description
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." (3:15) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Journey of the Magi: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
288
SKU:
00-PK-0008148
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jared Barnes
Jared Barnes brings a decade-plus of classroom experience to his arrangements and compositions. Based in Iowa, he has directed award-winning high school bands that earned Division I ratings at the IHSMA Large Group Festival and twice received the Class 1A High School Honor Band designation at the Iowa Bandmasters Conventions. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College.
His instrumental works circulate widely across the United States and internationally through honor bands, festivals, and regional showcases including the Midwest Clinic. His music has earned recognition on the Stanton's Five Star Feature list, J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice selections, and the Bandworld Top 100, reflecting his gift for accessible, engaging writing across multiple instrumental genres.
Why we love this
This arrangement pairs two beloved magi carols in a single, musically cohesive arc that works beautifully as a concert closer or standalone winter program feature. Barnes' Grade 2.5 scoring gives younger and developing bands genuine musicality to perform without overloading technical demands. The three-minute-fifteen-second runtime fits neatly into most concert slots, and programming both carols together creates a narrative arc that audiences immediately recognize and appreciate.
What to expect
Reverent yet joyful, this arrangement respects the spiritual weight of the magi story while capturing the wonder and festivity of the season. The orchestration lets both carols breathe, unfolding with warmth and clarity across the band.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 to 2.5 level will find accessible, manageable material that still delivers genuine holiday character. Student musicians gain experience with traditional material while directors get a program-ready arrangement that rehearses efficiently and performs with musical satisfaction.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody through the ensemble carefully; traditional carols rely on clear, singing lines that should project above the supporting harmony rather than compete for attention.
- Work for consistency in articulation across sections when transitioning between the two carols to keep the concert flow smooth and intentional.
- Give percussion players their moment without overweighting the texture; thoughtful placement of optional parts lets them support the harmony without obscuring the melodic content.
How to use it
Close a winter concert with this two-carol pairing to send audiences out with familiar, beloved melodies in fresh concert band voices. It also works as a standalone feature at holiday community events, school assemblies, or ceremonies where a brief, meaningful musical offering complements the occasion.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining and shaping long melodic lines with consistent tone
- Balancing melody and harmony within a full ensemble texture
- Transitioning smoothly between related sections in a medley context
- Playing with historical awareness of traditional carol sources and arrangement conventions