Sing of a Merry Christmas (Full Orchestra): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00879891
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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-PK00879891
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 accomplished performer, he has given solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, and won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, which led to a featured performance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His recital at Ex-convento del Carman was broadcast nationally.
Martin has built a prolific career as a composer and arranger while maintaining an active concert schedule focused on church music and musicians' conferences. His works have been performed in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the Mel Tillis Theatre in Branson, Missouri, as well as in hundreds of worship services throughout the United States and Canada. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Sue and their children Jonathan and Aubrey.
Why we love this
The patter text recalls the playful rapid-fire numbers of Gilbert and Sullivan, giving singers genuine comic material to sink their teeth into rather than relying on hammy delivery. Martin's folk-based harmonic language keeps the accompaniment accessible across multiple orchestrations, meaning you can program this whether you have a full orchestra or chamber forces available. It's genuinely joyful without being saccharine, which makes it an earned finale that audiences actually remember.
What to expect
Bouncy and effervescent, with text that tumbles along like a musical box winding itself tighter and tighter. The folk melody feels both familiar and fresh, giving singers room to enjoy the shape of the tune while the orchestration adds sparkle and warmth around them.
Who it's for
Choirs and orchestras planning a holiday concert or service that wants something with genuine character and technical interest for both singers and instrumentalists. The multiple orchestration options make it accessible whether you're directing a full orchestra program or working with limited instrumental resources.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the text clarity in rehearsal by isolating the patter sections at half tempo, then gradually accelerating to performance speed. Singers often rush when they feel confident with the rhythm, so locked articulation and consonant placement matter enormously.
- Balance the choir forward enough that the text lands; these folk melodies can disappear under thick orchestration if the singers sit back. The accompaniment should sparkle around the voices, not bury them.
- Let the recorded accompaniment shape your tempo in early rehearsals, then gradually assert your own interpretation. The folk idiom has natural breathing points that won't feel rushed if you trust the text's natural pulse.
- Consider doubling the soprano line with flute or piccolo in performance to brighten the high moments and ensure the melody projects in a larger venue.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a concert closer because the infectious energy and joyful text leave audiences smiling as they leave. You could also pair it with a more introspective Christmas selection earlier in the program to create dynamic contrast, or use it as the finale in a service where the mood needs lift and affirmation.
Skills your students will build
- Rapid text articulation and diction clarity in patter passages
- Balancing choral line with active orchestral accompaniment
- Flexible tempo adjustment within a folk-based harmonic framework
- Reading sustained vocal lines while ensemble maintains rhythmic independence