The Yuletide Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$6.00 USD

The Yuletide Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: The Yuletide Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-22330S
Price: 6.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-22330S

$6.00

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What would it sound like if Scott Joplin had written "Jingle Bells?" Your students and audience will find out when they hear this delightful holiday piece in ragtime style. Full of great teaching opportunities (chromatics and syncopated rhythms), this arrangement has a mature, polished sound that orchestras of all levels will enjoy. All parts are playable in first position throughout.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081230160

SKU: 00-22330S

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years in the public school classroom, teaching strings at every level from elementary through high school. During his 22-year tenure directing orchestras at Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, he transformed a modest 29-student program into a thriving ensemble of 200 musicians while simultaneously overseeing the district's elementary string initiative.

Beyond his classroom work, Meyer has established himself as a nationally recognized composer with nearly 200 published works and arrangements to his name. He served 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing and co-authored the widely adopted String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings method books. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, pioneered innovative concert formats that bring music to underserved and special needs students throughout Southern California. Meyer has guest-conducted All-State orchestras across multiple states and appeared as a featured clinician at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, the Texas Orchestra Directors' Association Conference, and string workshops at Ohio State University and other regional venues. He led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, touring nationally and internationally to New York, Washington D.C., Vienna, Australia, and Canada.

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Why we love this

Meyer captures the infectious bounce of Scott Joplin's ragtime idiom while keeping the technical demands realistic for middle school strings. The syncopated rhythms and chromatic figures feel sophisticated without requiring thumb position or excessive shifting, making this an ideal stepping stone for orchestras ready to tackle rhythmic complexity but not yet prepared for advanced fingering patterns.

What to expect

Jaunty and mischievous, like a ragtime pianist has hijacked a beloved Christmas carol and set it loose in the concert hall. The arrangement sparkles with unexpected chromatic turns and lilting rhythmic displacements, creating a sophisticated-sounding work that audiences recognize immediately and students enjoy tackling.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the 2.5 grade level looking for holiday repertoire with genuine musical substance. Directors seeking pieces that entertain audiences while teaching syncopation and chromatic voice-leading without requiring advanced positions.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the ragtime lilt in rehearsal by isolating the syncopated rhythmic figures first; once students lock the "swing" of these patterns, the contour of the melody becomes second nature.
Balance the first and second violin lines during the syncopated sections so neither dominates. The dialogue between parts is what gives this arrangement its character.
Let the violas and cellos anchor the harmonic movement beneath the playful upper voices. A secure foundation allows violins to phrase with confidence and flex the rhythm slightly.
Work the chromatic passages hands together, then gradually add articulation. Clean execution of these lines is what separates a competent reading from a polished performance.

How to use it

Pair this with traditional holiday standards on your December concert to showcase the range of your orchestra. The moderate difficulty makes it ideal for mid-rehearsal season, giving you time to develop the rhythmic precision required without sacrificing other preparations.