Tidings of Joy: A Celtic Christmas Celebration (Chamber Orchestra): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00463815
$200.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Inspired by Celtic music traditions and time-honored carols, this new work overflows with seasonal spirit. From prophecy to Epiphany, the cantata covers the entire Christmas story and wraps it in jubilant and approachable music. Supported by encouraging narration, dazzling orchestrations and a complete line of support products, this spectacular work will be a warm holiday welcome to your community of faith.¶Songs include: °A Christmas Invitation; A Festival Gathering of Carols; Upon the Wind, There Comes a Song; From the Prophet Comes a Promise; A Song of Joy; The Silent Stars Go By; Comfort and Joy; Look to the Silver Sky; Sing of a Merry Christmas; Glad Tidings of Great Joy.°¶Score and Parts for Full Orchestra (fl 1-2/pic, ob/eng hn, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, pno, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download.¶Score and Parts for Celtic Consort (pno, gtr, fl/pwhis, cl, bls, perc, vn, vc) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download.¶Score and Parts for Chamber Orchestra (pno, fl, cl, tpt 1-2, tbn, bls, perc, kybd strings) available as a digital download.
Tidings of Joy: A Celtic Christmas Celebration (Chamber Orchestra): Choral Instrumental Pak isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00463815
More about this title
About the Composer: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. A accomplished solo pianist and symphonic collaborator, he won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition and has performed with orchestras throughout the United States and Mexico, including a nationally broadcast recital from Ex-convento del Carmen.
Martin's compositional output spans concert halls (Carnegie Hall), theatrical venues (the Mel Tillis Theatre in Branson), and countless worship spaces across North America. He currently divides his time between concert performance and church music, bringing a distinctive blend of technical sophistication and spiritual depth to his compositions. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Sue and their children Jonathan and Aubrey.
Why we love this
Martin balances accessibility with orchestral sophistication here, giving amateur and semi-professional ensembles the chance to present a full-scale Christmas cantata without requiring professional soloists or an unwieldy pit. The narrative arc from prophecy through Epiphany transforms familiar carols into something cohesive and spiritually purposeful rather than a simple medley.
What to expect
Warm and buoyant, drawing on Celtic harmonic color and traditional carol melodies to build something that feels both timeless and freshly imagined. The music invites singers and players into a season of joy without slipping into sentimentality.
Who it's for
Churches and faith communities fielding a mixed ensemble of singers and instrumentalists who want a holiday presentation with genuine dramatic scope. Directors of community bands or orchestras seeking a sacred choral project that doesn't demand professional soloists.
How to get the most out of it
- The Celtic Consort version offers a nimble alternative if your full orchestra isn't available; the instrumentation (piano, guitar, flute/pipes, clarinet, bells, percussion, violin, cello) captures the festive character while reducing logistical demands.
- Prioritize early rehearsals with your narrators to establish pacing between musical sections; the quality of the spoken word directly shapes how listeners receive the Christmas story arc.
- Let your percussionists lead the festive energy, particularly in the opening 'Festival Gathering' section; their rhythmic clarity anchors the jubilant orchestrations.
How to use it
Schedule this as your primary Christmas concert offering or feature it as the centerpiece of an Advent service series, allowing the cumulative effect of ten movements to deepen the spiritual experience. The flexibility across three orchestration levels means you can premiere it with full orchestra, then restage it with chamber forces if your ensemble roster fluctuates seasonally.
Skills your students will build
- Reading compound and changing meters common to Celtic idioms
- Balancing instrumental and choral textures in a staged narrative work
- Interpreting modal harmony and traditional folk melody within contemporary arrangement contexts
- Responding to narration cues and coordinating ensemble entries across extended song cycles