'Tis the Season: B-flat Tenor Saxophone
Variations on "Deck the Halls"
Various / arr. Brian Beck
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017884_TX1
$3.00
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Description
Delight your holiday audiences with a charming and colorful set of variations on this popular Christmas carol. A jolly setting leads to a Spanish bolero, a march, and a Bach-style fugue, ending with a traditional setting full of holiday spirit!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, 'Tis the Season: B-flat Tenor Saxophone 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:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
142
SKU:
00-PC-0017884_TX1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Brian Beck
Brian Beck is a composer and arranger whose concert band works have earned recognition from major publications and festivals across the United States. His pieces appear on prescribed music lists for UIL competitions, the Birch Bay Band Title List, and the Florida Bandmasters Association Concert Music Committee, and several have been selected for Teaching Music Through Performance In Band. The Instrumentalist and J. W. Pepper have honored his arrangements as "Reviewer's Choice," while Tom Lee Music named his work among the best new concert band music.
Beck holds degrees in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Houston. He has directed award-winning bands at both Faubion Middle School in McKinney, Texas, and Byrd Middle School in Duncanville, where he received a "Teacher of the Year" nomination. The ensembles under his leadership have consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL events and have performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.
Why we love this
This arrangement packs sophisticated musical storytelling into a Grade 2 package without oversimplifying the material. Each variation feels genuinely distinct—from the jolly opening through the Spanish bolero's rhythmic character to the march's precision and the fugal writing that challenges young musicians' ensemble balance—giving your band memorable moments to rehearse and perform.
What to expect
A kaleidoscope of musical moods wrapped around a familiar melody. The piece bounces from warmth to Latin flair to military precision to intellectual counterpoint before landing in a joyful, uncomplicated celebration that feels earned after the journey.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 level who want holiday programming that goes beyond a simple arrangement. Directors seeking variety within a single piece will appreciate the multiple character shifts that keep young musicians engaged and provide different rehearsal focuses across one score.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the transitions between variations deliberately so each section lands as a complete musical thought. Even though tempos may shift, maintain clear articulation and phrase direction throughout the piece.
- The Bach-style fugue requires careful voice independence. Make sure each section hears its own line as a melody, not as accompaniment, so the counterpoint emerges clearly for the audience.
- Balance the Spanish bolero so the rhythmic character of that variation shines. The rhythmic figures need definition without overpowering the melodic line underneath.
- Return to the traditional setting with fresh energy in the closing section. This is your chance to celebrate the holidays; let the full band sound engaged and spirited without rushing the tempo.
How to use it
Program this as your centerpiece for a holiday concert or winter assembly when you want something that shows your band's range without demanding advanced technical skill. The variations work equally well as a standalone feature or alongside lighter pops arrangements and traditional holiday carols in a balanced concert.
Skills your students will build
- Stylistic contrast and tonal adjustment across distinct musical settings
- Part independence in fugal writing and counterpoint
- Latin rhythmic feel and swing articulation in the bolero section
- Dynamic control and ensemble balance across varying textures
- Transition and sectional clarity in multi-movement arrangements