This is a beautiful chorale in 3/4 which is very easy for the first-year string player. Violin 2, viola, and bass parts are all written on the D and A strings only. Violin 1 uses the E string sparingly. Perfect for your first holiday concert.
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Les Taylor has designed this piece with precise pedagogical restraint: Violin 2, viola, and cello stay on the D and A strings, which means your beginning players focus entirely on the positions they've mastered. The gentle 3/4 chorale framework gives conductors something rehearsal-friendly that still sounds polished and seasonal.
What to expect
A gentle, quiet snowfall translated into sound. The chorale moves at an unhurried pace, and the restricted range gives the piece a contemplative quality rather than a flashy one. It feels like music for watching winter unfold, not for racing through the season.
Who it's for
Beginning string orchestras with first-year players across all sections. The limited string usage makes it approachable even for groups where some players are newer to their instruments than others. This works well for programs building confidence before tackling more complex holiday repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the melody between Violin 1 and Violin 2 by having them play with similar dynamic weight; beginning players often undershoot their projection when sharing the tune.
Establish a clear pulse in rehearsal by conducting in one (one beat per measure in 3/4) so students feel the lyrical, unhurried character rather than rushing the accompaniment.
Tune the open D and A strings carefully before the first run-through; the piece's simplicity makes intonation differences immediately audible.
Keep vibrato minimal or absent for Violin 2 and viola to maintain clarity in the inner voices and let the piece breathe openly.
How to use it
Open your holiday concert with this piece to set a calm, welcoming tone while showcasing what your beginning students have learned. It pairs naturally before more energetic holiday fare and gives your orchestra confidence for the concert ahead. Save it for a program slot where the audience transitions from arrival to attention.
Skills your students will build
Sustaining open D and A string tone
Reading chorale textures with four independent parts
Maintaining rhythmic cohesion in 3/4 meter
Balancing melody and accompaniment voices
Responding to conducting in a slow tempo
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