Soulful Tidings, by Deborah Baker Monday, is a clever arrangement that will add great variety to your holiday program. Written in E minor/G major, with simple rhythms and high energy, the brief legato section provides excellent bow training, and the optional tambourine part adds to the fun and is easily playable by a student! (2:10)
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Deborah Baker Monday shaped string education in Utah's Logan City School District over 25 years, establishing a program recognized statewide for excellence. A bassist herself, she studied composition at the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University under prestigious mentors, earning the Chancellor's Award and performing with regional orchestras throughout her career.
Since retiring from full-time teaching, Monday remains deeply engaged with music education as a guest clinician, conductor, and teaching supervisor. She has composed and arranged over 130 works for educational ensembles across seven publishing companies, winning the UtahASTA Composition Competition twice (2006, 2011) and earning recognition for superior accomplishment from both UtahASTA and UtahMEA. Her presentations span state conferences and national conventions including The Midwest Clinic and the Ohio State String Teachers Workshop.
Why we love this
Monday understands exactly what string players at this level need to hear and play. The arrangement balances energy and technical accessibility, giving students a piece that feels substantial without overwhelming them, while the optional tambourine part keeps everyone engaged and adds genuine festive color.
What to expect
Spirited and warm, with a character that's festive without being saccharine. The piece charges forward with infectious energy, then settles into a graceful legato passage that invites students to breathe and listen before snapping back to life.
Who it's for
String orchestras at grades 1-2 looking for repertoire that combines holiday appeal with genuine musicality. This works equally well for ensembles developing core skills and for more established groups seeking variety that doesn't sacrifice educational value.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the legato section with intentional bow weight and direction changes; this brief passage is where students consolidate their tone production, so slow practice with focus on bow control yields immediate results.
Lock in the rhythmic drive during the high-energy sections by having the ensemble feel the pulse together rather than counting; this approach frees up mental space for intonation and ensemble balance.
Assign the tambourine part to a reliable student who can listen to the string texture while adding rhythmic punctuation; rehearse their part separately so they understand how it sits within the arrangement.
How to use it
Program this as a second-half closer or opening piece at a holiday concert; its combination of joy and brevity (2:10) makes it ideal for catching an audience's energy without consuming valuable rehearsal time. The arrangement also travels well to festivals and contests where variety and accessible difficulty matter.
Skills your students will build
Bow control and legato technique in a contrasting section
Rhythmic precision in high-energy passages
Intonation awareness in E minor tonality
Ensemble balance between rhythmic and sustained textures
Coordination with percussion in an optional part configuration
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