The Christmas Gig Book, Volume 2: F Horn Part(s)

Marlatt's arranging voice shines here: the writing sits comfortably for horn players without sacrificing the character of these beloved carols, and the variety across ten pieces means your quintet stays engaged rather than falling into a single interpretive groove. The medium difficulty level isn't a compromise; it's a genuine sweet spot where holiday arrangements can sound polished and intentional at a winter concert.

These arrangements honor the carol tradition while opening up the harmonic language in ways that feel fresh. You get ten distinct moods across the collection, from the processional grandeur of 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' to the gentler, introspective quality of 'Still, Still, Still,' keeping the holiday season from collapsing into saccharine repetition.

This collection serves brass quintets working at the intermediate level, whether in a school setting or community ensemble. It's ideal for hornists who want substantive holiday repertoire without the technical barriers that can derail a December performance.

• Balance the horn's natural warmth with the brighter brass voices; you're often carrying harmonic foundation rather than melody, so commit fully to supporting phrase shape from the other players.
• Explore the dynamic contrast within single pieces. Christmas music can flatten into one mood if every phrase sits at the same volume; Marlatt's voicing invites you to shape the harmonic layers.
• Coordinate vibrato sparingly with the trumpet and trombone on sustained chords. A unified shimmer on slower pieces like 'Still, Still, Still' sells the arrangement's character immediately.

Launch a holiday pops concert with a three-piece brass quintet segment drawn from this book, bracketed by full ensemble carols for a mixed instrumentation effect. Or build an entire winter concert around these ten pieces, letting the variety support both standalone performances and a thematic program arc from celebration to reflection.

• Blending harmonic foundation lines with ensemble sonority
• Phrase shaping in sustained accompaniment figures
• Reading at medium difficulty across traditional and less-familiar carol repertoire
• Balancing dynamic control in quintet voicing without conductor
• Stylistic flexibility moving between carol settings with different moods and tempos