The Holidays in Five: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$100.00 USD

The Holidays in Five: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Holidays in Five: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS243400
Price: 100.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gary Fagan

Grade: 4

Item: 98-RWS243400

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Get ready to jazz up your holiday season with a sensational holiday twist. The Holidays in Five is a festive rendition of a beloved Yuletide tune infused with iconic style. In this innovative arrangement, Gary Fagan has taken the timeless melodies of Christmas and transformed them into a cool and sophisticated jazz experience. Picture yourself sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace as the band swings into action, blending the familiar warmth of holiday music with the smooth, syncopated rhythms and unconventional time signatures. (4:02)

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Series: RWS - Symphony Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-7189-1

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-7189-1

UPC: 038081594033

SKU: 98-RWS243400

More about this title

About the Arranger: Gary Fagan

Gary Fagan brings three decades of classroom experience to his work as a composer and arranger. A Virginia native, he spent 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County before transitioning to higher education, where he now supervises student teachers and teaches arranging at James Madison University. His arrangements and compositions have reached audiences across the country, from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to performances at the White House and gubernatorial inaugurations.

Recognized multiple times as an Outstanding Educator by both state and national organizations, Fagan remains deeply active in the music education community as a clinician, adjudicator, and member of ASCAP and the National Band Association. He currently plays percussion with the Charlottesville Band, where he serves as Assistant Director, keeping one foot firmly in the ensemble experience that informs his writing.

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Why we love this

Jazz arrangements of familiar holiday material often feel like gimmicks, but Fagan's work here respects both the source material and the idiom. The Grade 4 difficulty level means your students can actually execute the syncopation and time signature shifts without the arrangement becoming more about logistics than musicality. Programming this gives your holiday concert genuine sophistication without sacrificing accessibility.

What to expect

Comfortable and cool, like the warmth of a winter evening indoors meets the snap of modern jazz sensibility. The familiar holiday melodies ground the listener while Fagan's syncopation and harmonic choices keep things fresh and engaging, never settling into predictability.

Who it's for

Bands seeking holiday repertoire that moves beyond traditional arrangements and gives student musicians a chance to explore jazz idioms in a sophisticated context. Directors who want to program something festive but distinctive will find this fills a real need without patronizing the ensemble.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the swing feel early in rehearsals. Have the rhythm section tap out the jazz ride cymbal pattern before running the full piece so everyone locks into the pocket.
Mark the meter changes visibly in your score. The unconventional time signatures need clear preparation and cutoffs; dancers won't help here, so use deliberate gestures at transitions.
Let the soloists breathe. Jazz arranging typically provides space for individual voices to shine; resist the urge to over-conduct these moments.
Balance the saxophones against the fuller ensemble. Jazz voicings can get buried quickly if the winds aren't mixed carefully.

How to use it

Use this as your closing piece on a December concert to send audiences out with sophistication and swing rather than sentiment. It works equally well as a standalone concert number or as part of a mixed holiday program where it provides contrast to traditional arrangements. The four-minute length makes it an ideal anchor for a shorter holiday showcase.