Sussex Carol: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Sussex Carol: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Sussex Carol: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49961
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Traditional English Carol / arr. Robert Sheldon

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49961

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This uplifting arrangement of Sussex Carol, arranged by Robert Sheldon, is an ideal setting of one of England's most popular carols and the perfect choice for your holiday program. Usually performed in a spirited 6/8, this version sets the tune in a slower 3/4 time, allowing younger musicians to enjoy playing this delightful melody. (1:50) (Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 6).

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sussex Carol: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-5860-7

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5860-1

UPC: 038081576169

SKU: 00-49961

More about this title

About the Arranger: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon's arrangements and compositions appear on concert stages, contest lists, and teaching curricula worldwide. As the principal author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band, he has shaped how thousands of young musicians develop foundational skills. His work has earned recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP, reflecting compositions that engage both performers and listeners with genuine musical substance.

Sheldon maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor for honor bands and clinician at universities and state conferences across the United States and internationally, including appearances in Japan, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, and China. He has conducted his own works at Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Chicago Orchestra Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to music education.

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Why we love this

Sheldon's decision to reset this carol in 3/4 rather than the traditional 6/8 makes a genuine pedagogical choice, not a shortcut. Young bands gain confidence tackling a recognizable melody in a more approachable meter, and the slower tempo reveals the tune's warmth without rushing it. Programming this alongside more complex holiday selections gives your concert structural breathing room and a moment of genuine charm.

What to expect

Warm and unhurried. The shift to 3/4 time softens the carol's usual brightness and invites the ensemble to listen to the melody's natural contours. There's a generosity to this arrangement that honors the tune's centuries of tradition while meeting young players exactly where they are.

Who it's for

Directors programming holiday concerts for beginning and early-intermediate bands will find immediate utility here. Young musicians who need to build confidence with a beloved carol gain an accessible entry point, while the Sound Innovations correlation means your repertoire and curriculum reinforce each other seamlessly.

How to get the most out of it

Resist the urge to rush the 3/4 pulse. The slower tempo is the arrangement's gift to younger ensembles; lean into the breathing space rather than filling it with unnecessary momentum.
Balance the melody across your instrumentation. With Grade 1.5 voicing, multiple sections will carry the tune at different points; bring out these shifts gently so the carol remains anchored and recognizable.
Use dynamic shape to create lift without sacrificing clarity. A hairpin gesture on a phrase ending helps sustain interest across the lengthened note values inherent in 3/4 time.

How to use it

Anchor your first half or serve as a palate cleanser between higher-energy selections. At under two minutes, it fits comfortably into a concert of mixed difficulty levels and reminds audiences why bands program carols in the first place. Consider placing it where an acoustic moment will matter most.