The First Noel: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
Traditional / arr. Peter Blair
Grade: 1 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0005994
$42.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| The First Noel: Score | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 2nd B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 2nd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 3rd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 2nd Trombone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 3rd Trombone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Guitar Chords | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Guitar | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Piano Accompaniment | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: String Bass | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Drums | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Flute | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Vibraphone | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| The First Noel: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This beautiful holiday waltz contains great harmony and texture. Easily performable by Grade 1 players at around 96 BPM, it even sounds terrific with reduced instrumentation and includes lots of optional parts. The lead trumpet range goes to written E top space. (2:42) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The First Noel: Jazz Ensemble 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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Additional Details
Series:
First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
48
SKU:
00-PK-0005994
More about this title
About the Arranger: Peter Blair
Peter Blair combines deep classroom experience with prolific compositional output. His dual master's degrees from Carroll University and the University of Wisconsin, paired with 12 years teaching across multiple grade levels, shaped his ability to write music that students actually want to play. Blair has created over 70 published compositions and arrangements while maintaining an active commission practice serving ensembles from middle school through college.
Directors recognize Blair's work for its pedagogical clarity without sacrificing genuine musicianship. His arrangements consistently balance accessibility with rewarding musical content, making him a trusted voice in first-year jazz ensemble literature.
Why we love this
This arrangement proves that Grade 1 jazz ensembles can perform a genuine holiday standard with real harmonic sophistication and textural interest. The waltz meter adds seasonal charm while the flexible instrumentation means you can deliver a polished performance even when students are absent or instruments aren't fully staffed. Directors return to this title year after year because it sounds remarkably mature for the level without requiring virtuosic playing.
What to expect
Warm and reflective, with the gentle sway of a waltz transformed into something that swings. The harmonic colors and textural layering create a sophisticated sound that belies the accessibility of the individual parts, giving young players the experience of playing something genuinely beautiful.
Who it's for
Beginning jazz ensemble students and directors building a holiday concert program that doesn't rely on simplified arrangements or novelty versions. The piece works equally well as a concert closer or a feature for your most responsive ensemble at the grade level.
How to get the most out of it
- Set the tempo around 96 BPM and resist the urge to rush; the waltz rhythm needs space to breathe and swing properly.
- Balance the melody in the lead trumpet against the supporting harmonies so the tune emerges clearly without the soloist overpowering the ensemble.
- Experiment with which optional parts to include during rehearsal based on your instrumentation and the style you want; the arrangement rewards exploration.
- Shape the phrases with gentle dynamic swells rather than sudden accents; the beauty of this piece lives in its harmony and flowing melody.
How to use it
Schedule this for your winter or holiday concert as either a solo feature or a moment of transition between higher-energy pieces. It also works beautifully as an encore or a gentle opener that settles the audience and establishes the festive mood before moving into other seasonal material.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and maintaining steady waltz meter (3/4) in jazz context
- Balancing individual voice clarity within ensemble harmonic texture
- Phrasing and shaping melody lines with dynamics and breath control
- Responding to optional instrumentation and flexible part assignments
- Understanding how jazz harmony functions in a traditional melody arrangement