The First Noel: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by John Cacavas
Grade: 2-3
Item: 35-PK00143437
$35.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| The First Noel - Full Score | $6.00 | |
| The First Noel - Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Violin 2 | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Violin 3 (Viola T.C.) | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Viola | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Cello | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - String Bass | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Piano | $7.00 | |
| The First Noel - Percussion | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Solid ensemble writing for your holiday performances. Dur: 2:00
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00143437
More about this title
About the Arranger: John Cacavas
John Cacavas brings decades of professional arranging experience to the concert hall. After earning his degree in Composition and Theory from Northwestern University, he served as an arranger with the United States Army Band in Washington, D.C., where he honed his craft writing for military ensembles. His credentials extend well beyond orchestral music; he has scored over 400 television programs, 50 made-for-TV films, and 15 feature films, giving him a sophisticated understanding of how music serves narrative and emotion.
Beyond his screen work, Cacavas has established himself as an educator and theorist. He authored two comprehensive texts, Orchestration and Music Arranging and The Art of Writing Music, making his expertise accessible to composers and arrangers at all levels. His arrangements consistently balance accessibility with musical substance, a quality evident in how he adapts familiar melodies for student ensembles.
Why we love this
Cacavas writes for Grade 2-3 strings with the craftsmanship of someone who understands exactly what these players can handle. The arrangement respects the carol's directness while building genuine ensemble texture, meaning your students aren't just reading notes but shaping a complete musical statement. For holiday concerts, you get a piece that sounds polished in two minutes without demanding weeks of rehearsal.
What to expect
Warm and accessible. The familiar melody grounds the listener immediately, while the string writing adds harmonic richness and modest counterpoint that lifts the arrangement beyond a bare transcription. Two minutes passes with genuine musicality intact.
Who it's for
String directors building a holiday program for Grade 2 and 3 students. This works equally well as a standalone instrumental piece or as an accompaniment to singers, making it flexible for various concert scenarios.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic line between first violins and violas or cellos when the carol moves between voices; young players tend to play everything equally, so marking which section carries the tune helps the phrase breathe.
- Set a steady, unhurried tempo that gives singers (if you're combining this with vocals) room to articulate text clearly without feeling rushed.
- Listen for the rhythmic precision in the ensemble parts; Grade 2-3 players sometimes shuffle rhythms in repeated figures, so a few focused rehearsals on rhythm unison pays dividends.
How to use it
Place this early in your holiday concert to establish a clear, traditional tone; the piece's directness settles an audience and lets more complex or experimental selections breathe later in the program. It also pairs naturally with other carol arrangements or with short vocal selections, creating a cohesive holiday section without structural heaviness.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melodic vs. accompaniment textures within an ensemble
- Playing sustained harmonic support without losing rhythmic clarity
- Shaping a complete musical phrase across multiple measures
- Responding to dynamic and tempo changes as an ensemble
- Reading parts that move between unison, octaves, and independent lines