Santa in the Mix: Timpani
Featuring: Here Comes Santa Claus / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Various / arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Grade: 2.5 (Easy to Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018716_TMP
$3.00
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Description
Two of the instantly recognizable Christmas pop standards that are permanent parts of our holiday music streaming programs are Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Claus" (or as he sang it in his iconic 1947 recording, "Here Comes Santy Claus") and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," with lyrics by J. Fred Coots. Both songs have been recorded hundreds of times and remain essentials of any December celebration. Santa in the Mix arranged by Douglas E. Wagner for concert band uses a light swing feel throughout to accentuate the melodies that we all love to hear at this happiest time of the year.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Santa in the Mix: Timpani 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:
Pop Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
81
SKU:
00-PC-0018716_TMP
More about this title
About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner studied composition and music education at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees before launching a thirty-year career in high school music administration and teaching. Since 1973, he has become one of the most prolific composers and arrangers in American music education, with more than 3,500 published works spanning concert band, orchestra, choir, handbell ensemble, organ, piano, and vocal literature.
Wagner's catalog has sold well over seventeen million copies and his music regularly appears in concert halls, broadcast performances, and festivals throughout North America and internationally. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, he continues to focus exclusively on composition and arrangement work.
Why we love this
Wagner's swing-inflected take on these holiday classics strips away the schmaltz and gives your band genuine fun to play. The Grade 2.5 scoring lets your middle-school ensemble sound polished and festive without requiring advanced technique, making this one of those rare December selections that both players and audiences genuinely enjoy.
What to expect
Light, swinging, and infectiously cheerful. Wagner's arrangement keeps the distinctive melodies front and center while adding just enough harmonic color and rhythmic momentum to feel contemporary without overwhelming younger players. The swing feel gives the familiar songs a sophisticated yet approachable energy.
Who it's for
December programming for middle-school and early high school concert bands seeking accessible yet genuinely musical holiday material. This works equally well for winter concerts, pep events, or community performances where immediate audience recognition and player enjoyment matter.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the swing feel early in rehearsal by isolating the rhythm section and establishing a relaxed, bouncy pulse before layering in melody voices.
- Balance the two songs as a medley pair rather than treating them as separate pieces; let the transition feel connected and purposeful.
- Keep articulation light and bouncy throughout, especially in the section parts, to support the swing style without sounding stiff.
- Record a playback of your rehearsal and listen for clarity in the melody line; adjust ensemble balance so the familiar tunes cut through the arrangement.
How to use it
Pair this as a closer to a balanced concert program, or program it in the middle section to lift energy after a lyrical piece. The two-song structure gives you flexible timing: play both for maximum impact, or extract one piece if you need a shorter feature.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with swing feel and understanding light articulation in a non-classical context
- Balancing melody against supporting harmonic voices within a medley structure
- Maintaining consistent pulse while executing rhythmic variation across different instrumental sections
- Interpreting style markings for a contemporary popular arrangement