Olde English Carol - What Child Is This?: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
What Child Is This?
Arranged by Robert W. Smith
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PK-RWS1605
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Description
Robert W. Smith's beautiful setting of the traditional English carol will be a highlight of your holiday concert program. From the delicacy of the keyboard percussion and alto saxophone solo to the lushness of the full ensemble statement, the musicality of this arrangement is appropriate for developing bands to mature ensembles.
Original Item#: RWS-1605-00
Original Item#: RWS-1605-00
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Developing Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PK-RWS1605
More about this title
About the Arranger: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith has established himself as a prolific voice in American concert band and orchestral music, with more than 400 published compositions and arrangements to his name, predominantly through Alfred Music. He holds degrees from Troy State University and the University of Miami and has conducted and clinicated across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, bringing his work directly to ensembles and audiences worldwide.
Smith's catalog spans from accessible developing band literature such as The Tempest to large-scale symphonic works including The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, which have circulated internationally. His music has reached far beyond the concert hall, appearing on major television broadcasts, at the Olympic Games, and in ceremonial contexts ranging from state functions to opening day at professional sporting events.
Why we love this
Smith's approach to this traditional carol balances elegance with accessibility, creating a setting that respects the tune's dignity while offering young musicians rewarding solo moments and ensemble textures. The writing for keyboard percussion and alto saxophone prevents the arrangement from feeling generic, and the progression from delicate passages to fuller harmonic statements gives developing bands a genuine musical arc to shape rather than simply play through.
What to expect
The piece opens with a hushed, intimate quality as keyboard percussion and alto saxophone introduce the familiar melody, creating a sense of quiet reverence. As the full ensemble enters, the harmony deepens and expands, building warmth and resonance while maintaining the gentle character that makes this carol enduring.
Who it's for
Developing concert bands and intermediate ensembles looking for accessible yet musically satisfying holiday literature that goes beyond the superficial. Directors seeking a carol setting with genuine arrangement craft will find this particularly rewarding for groups at Grade 2 level and capable of balancing delicate instrumental colors with fuller sonorities.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the alto saxophone solo against the keyboard percussion; the saxophone should emerge but not overwhelm, especially in early rehearsals when young players tend to overpower softer instrumental colors.
- Shape the phrase endings in the keyboard percussion introduction with slight space and air rather than cutting them off abruptly; this sets the reflective mood for what follows.
- Resist rushing the full ensemble passages. The lush harmonies benefit from a steady pulse and clarity of articulation across all sections, particularly in the lower voices where intonation is most vulnerable.
How to use it
Use this as a centerpiece in your holiday concert, programming it where you want to shift the audience's attention and mood. Its Grade 2 accessibility makes it ideal for mid-program placement with full band, or it can stand alone as a moment of musical substance between more energetic fare.
Skills your students will build
- Balance and blend between solo voices and ensemble
- Dynamic control and shaping over sustained passages
- Intonation in homophonic voicing with close harmonic spacing
- Articulation clarity and consistency across the ensemble