The Christmas Gig Book, Volume 1: 1st Trumpet Part(s)

Marlatt's arrangements respect the idioms of each instrument without inflating the technical demands. The variety of styles and moods across ten pieces means your quintet stays engaged throughout rehearsals, and the medium difficulty level actually delivers on its promise, these aren't simplified arrangements that insult your musicians' intelligence.

The collection moves through the emotional landscape of the Christmas season with sophistication. You'll experience quiet reverence in the sacred hymns, infectious joy in the folk-inspired pieces, and the warmth of familiar carols reframed through ensemble writing that feels both fresh and respectful of tradition.

Brass quintets operating at the intermediate level will find these arrangements immediately performable without compromise. Programs seeking seasonal repertoire that spans both solemn and celebratory moods have a complete concert ready here.

• Balance the melody between first and second trumpets during the ensemble passages in 'We Three Kings,' where the voices move in parallel motion. Check that the first part doesn't overshadow the harmonic support.
• Shape the lyrical lines in 'Silent Night' and 'Gesu Bambino' with gentle vibrato and careful dynamic control. These moments define the program's emotional core.
• Lock into the rhythmic drive of 'Pat-a-Pan' and 'Ye Merry Gents' early in rehearsals. The energy in these pieces comes from precision, not volume.

Build a holiday concert around this volume as your brass centerpiece, pairing it with vocal or full band repertoire for contrast. The thirty-minute runtime makes it substantial enough to anchor a program or function as an intermission feature when programmed with other seasonal works.

• Blending and balance within a quintet texture
• Playing secondary harmonic voices with presence and clarity
• Stylistic flexibility across hymns, carols, and traditional dances
• Dynamic control in exposed ensemble writing
• Sustaining musical line across multiple stanzas and repeating sections