O Happy Day: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Edwin Hawkins / arr. Scott Watson
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0006765
$52.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| O Happy Day: Score | $7.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Flute | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Oboe | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Bassoon | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 2nd B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: B-flat Bass Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 2nd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Baritone B.C. | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Bells | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 1st Percussion | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: 2nd Percussion | $3.00 | |
| O Happy Day: Timpani | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
"O Happy Day" reached the top of the U.S. and U.K. pop charts and has been a gospel standard ever since. This well-crafted arrangement for young band conveys the joy and inspiration of the original, including a "breakdown" section with clapping and a slow gospel-style IV-I "amen" at the end. Perfect to close your program and send your audience home with a happy song in their heart! (2:35)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, O Happy Day: 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:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
236
SKU:
00-PK-0006765
More about this title
About the Composer: Edwin Hawkins
Edwin Hawkins revolutionized gospel music in the late 1960s when his Northern California Youth Choir's recording of "Oh Happy Day" became a crossover phenomenon, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. His arrangement of the traditional hymn proved that sacred music could achieve mainstream success without compromising its spiritual authenticity, opening doors for gospel artists across genres and decades.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures what made the original recording infectious: genuine joy that translates across skill levels. Scott Watson's band writing keeps young players engaged with clear parts and a built-in crowd moment (the clapping section), making it a concert closer that actually lands rather than just fills time.
What to expect
Uplifting and joyful with moments of quiet reverence. The clapping section brings playfulness and energy, while the closing gospel harmony settles into something contemplative and warm, leaving audiences with genuine goodwill rather than exhaustion.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for bands at the 1.5 grade level that want accessible repertoire with genuine musicality and emotional impact. Directors looking to build ensemble cohesion and confidence will appreciate music that feels rewarding without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the breakdown section with clear dynamics and articulation so the clapping feels celebratory, not chaotic. Your ensemble's rhythmic precision here will elevate the moment.
- Balance the gospel-inflected harmony in the final "amen" cadence by having players listen across sections. The IV-I motion needs to breathe as a unified gesture, not a mechanical chord change.
- Let the tempo breathe naturally during the slower gospel passages. Young bands often rush spirituals, so consider marking a slight ritardando before those final measures to honor the hymn's character.
How to use it
Program this as your final selection for concerts where you want to send the audience out smiling. The combination of gospel authenticity and pop accessibility makes it ideal for spring or end-of-year concerts, pep band events, or any program needing a high-energy, feel-good finale.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble lock during syncopated passages
- Stylistic interpretation of gospel harmony and phrasing
- Dynamic contrast between energetic and introspective sections
- Balance and listening across parts in sustained harmonic passages