Sing of a Merry Christmas (Celtic Consort): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00879893
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Description
With a text that patters like a Gilbert and Sullivan aria, this folk-based seasonal offering is destined to become a standard. The joy-filled text is the perfect closer for concerts and services alike. Score and Parts for Full Orchestra (fl 1, fl 2/pic, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, hpsi, vn 1-2, va, vc, db); Chamber Orchestra (fl, cl, tpt 1-2, tbn, bls, perc, kybd) and Celtic Consort (gtr, fl/pwhis, cl, bls, perc, vn/fdl, vc) each available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00879893
More about this title
About the Composer: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. A concert pianist who has performed solo recitals and appeared as featured artist with orchestras across the United States and Mexico, Martin won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition and performed with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His solo recital at Ex-convento del Carman received national broadcast.
Though Martin continues to maintain an active performance schedule, his recent focus has shifted toward church music and conference work with church musicians. His compositions and arrangements have been heard in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Mel Tillis Theatre in Branson, as well as in countless worship services and concert settings across North America. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Sue and their children Jonathan and Aubrey.
Why we love this
The patterned text has genuine wit and energy, reminiscent of comic operetta writing but grounded in folk melody. Directors will appreciate the multiple orchestration options, which allow you to program this regardless of your ensemble size or instrumentation. As a concert closer, it delivers infectious joy without sacrificing musical substance.
What to expect
Patter and melody collide with genuine affection. The folk melody grounds the piece even as the quick text dances over it, creating a sense of playfulness that never tips into frivolity. The result is warmth with personality, the kind of piece that makes an audience leave smiling.
Who it's for
Choirs looking for a distinctive Christmas concert closer that feels fresh, not recycled. Directors working with orchestras, chamber ensembles, or folk instrument groups will find flexible scoring options that fit their forces. Sacred music programming that wants seasonal joy without sentimentality.
How to get the most out of it
- Maintain crisp articulation in the patter sections to keep the text crystal clear; Gilbert and Sullivan style works only when the audience hears every word.
- Choose your orchestration based on rehearsal time available. The Celtic Consort version offers vibrant color with minimal doubling and fewer parts to balance.
- Balance the choir against whatever instrumentation you use. The text is celebratory but never should be buried under orchestral sound.
- Approach the tempo with confidence. This piece demands forward momentum to land its rhythmic humor.
How to use it
This works best in the final moments of a Christmas concert, when the audience is ready for celebration and your singers have the vocal freshness to execute the text clearly. You could pair it with quieter carols earlier in your program to create dynamic contrast. The multiple orchestration options also make it a strong choice for both full orchestra concerts and more intimate services where a chamber arrangement feels appropriate.
Skills your students will build
- Singing rhythmic text clearly and expressively while maintaining musical line
- Coordinating fast patter with ensemble precision
- Balancing choral blend against varied instrumental textures
- Folk-influenced melodic phrasing and ornamentation
- Concert programming awareness and dramatic placement