The Holiday Season: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Roger Holmes has taken a recognizable holiday melody and dressed it in the language your ensemble knows best. The arrangement builds naturally from section to section while keeping the big band texture front and center, giving students something satisfying to play without overwhelming them technically.

A warm, swinging take on a holiday standard that feels both familiar and fresh. The piece has energy and movement without demanding virtuosic solo work, making it feel celebratory and inclusive for the whole band.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level will find this accessible without feeling patronizing. It works for groups that have solid swing experience and are ready to tackle ensemble balance and big band texture in a performance context.

• Balance the melody between sections during tutti passages; the familiar tune should sing even when the full ensemble is playing the classic big band figures.
• Lock in the swing feel early. Take time in rehearsal to establish how the rhythm section interprets the medium swing before layering in the horns.
• Shape phrases across bar lines rather than stopping at written rests. This keeps the harmonic movement and melodic arc moving forward naturally.
• Use dynamics to highlight the architecture of the arrangement. As different instruments or sections take the lead, adjust the background levels to let the interest shift smoothly.

Slot this into a winter concert or holiday pops program where you want to shift the mood toward something jazzy and contemporary. It pairs well alongside both traditional holiday arrangements and other jazz repertoire, bridging the gap between classical holiday programming and a jazz identity.

• Medium swing feel and rhythmic precision in an ensemble context
• Section balance and blend in full big band voicings
• Reading and executing classic jazz articulations and phrasings
• Responding to dynamic shaping and ensemble cueing across sectional textures