The Three O's of Christmas: Score
Traditional / arr. Elena Roussanova Lucas
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0001445
$8.00
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Description
A through-played medley, The Three O's of Christmas contains "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "O Come Rejoicing" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." A cherished new addition to the beginning holiday repertoire. (2:38)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Three O's of Christmas: Score 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:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
130
SKU:
00-PR-0001445
More about this title
About the Arranger: Elena Roussanova Lucas
Elena Roussanova Lucas trained at Moscow's prestigious Central Music School as a child prodigy before advancing to the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, where she earned the Red Diploma in Composition, Music History, Music Theory, and Instrumentation under the mentorship of Tihon Khrennikov and Tatiana Choodova. She also holds a diploma in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Accompaniment from the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College and maintains membership in the United Russian Composers Union.
As a performer and educator, Lucas has had her work presented by major Russian orchestras, brass ensembles, and soloists of international standing. She has given masterclasses in composition and performed as a pianist throughout Moscow, Europe, and the United States, earning First Prize in a Russia-wide piano competition. Lucas has taught at Boston University.
Why we love this
Lucas strips these three beloved carols down to their musical essentials without losing their character, making them genuinely accessible to young bands without condescension. The through-played format keeps momentum alive across all three hymns, and her orchestration ensures that even Grade 1 ensembles sound polished and intentional rather than thin.
What to expect
Reverent but not heavy. These three hymns feel like a natural family when woven together, unfolding at a pace that young musicians can follow with clarity. The arrangement respects the spiritual character of each carol while keeping the texture open and transparent, allowing individual voices to breathe.
Who it's for
First-year band students and very young ensembles building fundamental ensemble skills. This medley is equally valuable for holiday concerts, church performances, or mid-winter morale builders when your program needs material that sounds finished without requiring extensive rehearsal time.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep phrases connected across the seams between carols; the medley works best when it feels like one flowing statement rather than three separate pieces.
- Adjust dynamic contrast carefully at this level. Even a subtle lift into "O Come Rejoicing" gives shape without demanding technical virtuosity from the ensemble.
- Balance the melody across your woodwinds and brass so the tune carries clearly. At Grade 1, doubling parts are essential; make sure the primary line doesn't disappear into supporting voicing.
- Lock in the rhythmic foundation with your low reeds and tubas from the start. Strong ensemble rhythm frees your younger players to listen and blend.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or closing number for your December concert; it sets a ceremonial but welcoming tone. It works beautifully as a church or community holiday performance piece that gives new ensembles genuine repertoire without stretching rehearsal resources.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and sustaining whole note and half note values in hymn contexts
- Blending dynamics across woodwind and brass sections in homophonic textures
- Responding to phrase-shaping cues within a medley structure
- Articulating sustained melodic lines with consistent tone quality
- Coordinate ensemble rhythm in simple meters without rushing