Keeping Christmas: Score & Parts

These arrangements honor the warmth and directness of English carol tradition. The writing opens space for the melodies to breathe while the string writing adds richness that moves beyond simple unison playing.

String orchestras and string quartets preparing winter or holiday concerts. The Grade 3 level accommodates developing ensembles while the familiar carol melodies give students musical payoff early in rehearsal.

• Balance the first violin line so it sings the carol melody clearly, but allow the lower voices enough presence to support the harmonic foundation without doubling obscuring the arrangement's voicing.
• Use the score to identify where McMichael shifts the melody between instruments; plan your rehearsal sectionals around these moments so each player owns their thematic roles.
• Shape phrases musically within each carol rather than treating them as separate pieces; think about how tempo and character connect across the seven selections to create a cohesive performance experience.

Program these selections as a cohesive caroling suite that celebrates holiday traditions without requiring soloists or specialized arrangements. The collection's variety works well in a mixed seasonal concert, or present all seven consecutively as a string orchestra feature.

• Reading multiple carol melodies and transitioning melodic roles across instruments
• Balancing melody and harmonic support in Grade 3 voicings
• Sustaining musical phrasing across familiar melodic material
• Ensemble coordination in arrangements with clear but not complex part relationships