The Holly and the Ivy: 1st Percussion
Arr. Jeanne Vultaggio
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0001417_PC1
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Description
The Holly and the Ivy is a beautiful setting of an old favorite that will showcase developing bands. The simple tune and lush harmony are accomplished within a modest range, providing the opportunity to focus on musical expression. The Holly and the Ivy is a nice change of pace and a great way to round out any holiday program. (1:55)
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
118
SKU:
00-PC-0001417_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Jeanne Vultaggio
Jeanne Vultaggio brought her experience as a horn player and wind conductor to the podium after earning degrees from Boston University and Hofstra University, where she studied with Peter Loel Boonshaft. Her background in brass performance and music education shaped her approach to composition and arranging, particularly her work with chamber ensembles and vocal groups during her early musical training.
As an elementary band director on Long Island, Vultaggio recognized gaps in quality repertoire for beginning musicians and began creating pieces that honor both the technical realities and artistic potential of young players. Her work as a NYSSMA adjudicator and member of professional music education organizations reflects her commitment to understanding what developing bands need to succeed. She composes specifically for the musicians in front of her, ensuring that each piece opens doors for musical expression rather than closing them.
Why we love this
Vultaggio writes for the band you actually have, not an imaginary one with perfect blend and weeks of rehearsal time. A Grade 1 arrangement of a beloved carol that demands nothing technically but creates space for genuine musicality makes this a rare find for holiday programming; most easy arrangements either strip the piece to nothing or overwhelm developing players with busywork. The simple tune and harmonic depth mean your musicians can listen to each other and shape phrases together from day one.
What to expect
A carol that feels both familiar and fresh. The old tune carries its own weight, but Vultaggio's harmonies wrap around it like careful hands, creating texture without clutter. There's a quiet dignity here, the kind of arrangement that lets a developing band sound like musicians, not students working through a piece.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands ready to sound musical on a holiday program, directors who want their youngest players to experience what a lush harmonic setting feels like without technical overwhelm, and any ensemble needing a warm and accessible seasonal piece that still respects the intelligence of the audience.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody clearly across sections; because the harmonic writing is lush for this level, resist the urge to swell underneath the tune. Let the tune soar.
- Shape phrases within the 1:55 framework by thinking about where the melody breathes naturally, not where it's convenient to take a breath. This teaches phrasing before complexity.
- Use the modest range as an opportunity to work on tone quality rather than reaching for volume. Each section can focus entirely on blending without stretching into uncomfortable registers.
How to use it
Pair this with one more substantial holiday work and an upbeat season opener to create a three-piece holiday set that shows range without exhausting the band's capabilities. Position it as a moment of cohesion midprogram, where the entire ensemble comes together in something genuinely beautiful before moving to more demanding literature.
Skills your students will build
- Blending voices within four-part harmony at a basic level
- Shaping melodic lines with intentional phrasing
- Listening to harmonic function while playing a single part
- Maintaining tone quality in accessible registers without forcing volume
- Balancing accompaniment texture beneath a primary melody