Three King Strut: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$58.00 USD

Three King Strut: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Three King Strut: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-31544
Price: 58.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By John Henry Hopkins, Jr. / arr. Carol J. Johnson

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-31544

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This flexible arrangement is the perfect introduction to full orchestra music for your ensemble. The piece begins with a traditional statement of "We Three Kings" using lush harmonies and a flowing melody, then quickly segues into a hip, cool style in 4/4 time that young players love to play! Designed to be very accessible for the wind students, the piece can be put together with minimal wind rehearsals. Students and audiences alike will love this upbeat and catchy tune! Playable by strings alone or with the addition of any number of winds.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Three King Strut: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Belwin Intermediate String/Full Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 166

UPC: 038081350660

SKU: 00-31544

More about this title

About the Composer: John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820-1891) was an American clergyman and poet who wrote both the words and music to "We Three Kings of Orient Are" in 1857. Originally composed for a Christmas pageant, the carol became one of the most recognizable holiday hymns in English-language worship and concert music. His gift for melody and his understanding of what made music memorable across diverse audiences has kept this tune alive in performances ranging from church services to professional orchestras.

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Why we love this

Carol J. Johnson's arrangement splits the difference between honoring the carol's spiritual roots and giving young orchestras genuine musical excitement. The opening section respects the hymn's dignity while the shift into a contemporary 4/4 groove gives wind and string players something genuinely fun to execute, and the flexibility to use strings alone or add winds gradually means you can build this piece into your rehearsal without scrambling for instrumental balance.

What to expect

The opening unfolds with reverent warmth and spacious harmonies that honor the carol's hymn roots, then pivots into something contemporary and groove-driven that catches listeners by surprise. The contrast gives the piece real dramatic shape, and the up-tempo second section brings infectious energy that audiences find both familiar and fresh.

Who it's for

This arrangement works for any full orchestra program at the 2.5 grade level, but it's especially valuable for ensembles with strong string sections and developing wind players. Directors building toward more complex repertoire will appreciate how accessible the wind parts are, freeing rehearsal time for balancing and style work rather than note-learning.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening statement of the hymn with a singing, legato approach; this section sets the emotional foundation for the contrast that follows.
Lock the rhythm section (cellos, basses, and any pizzicato violas) into the groove during the 4/4 section; their precision makes the hip feel land.
Balance the melody line so it cuts through without drowning out the harmonic movement beneath it, especially in the transition between sections.
If adding winds progressively, rehearse the string foundation first so winds can layer in cleanly without the ensemble losing its pulse.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a winter concert opener that sets a warm, welcoming tone before transitioning to other holiday or seasonal repertoire. The stylistic duality also makes it an effective teaching piece mid-season when you're ready to show young musicians that one melody can live in multiple musical worlds.