Ukrainian Bell Carol: B-flat Bass Clarinet
Setting by Robert W. Smith
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0002038_CBC
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
It's a win-win situation: a wonderfully beautiful concert setting and a performance piece that will motivate your percussionists to want to play mallet instruments. Robert W. Smith scores the mallet part for bells, vibes, and chimes, but everything can be performed on just bells. You'll also be pleasantly surprised to find this work easy to play despite sounding much more difficult. This is a wonderful opportunity to make your holidays happy! (2:08)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Ukrainian Bell Carol: B-flat Bass Clarinet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
136
SKU:
00-PC-0002038_CBC
More about this title
About the Arranger: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most recorded composers for concert band and orchestra, with more than 400 published works distributed worldwide. His education spans a Bachelor's in Music Education from Troy State University and a Master's degree from the University of Miami, training that shaped his gift for writing music that engages both developing and advanced ensembles.
Smith's original compositions, including his symphonies The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, have been performed across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. His arrangements and compositions have appeared in major television broadcasts, Olympic ceremonies, and iconic American events from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. As a conductor and clinician, he has worked extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe.
Why we love this
Smith understands exactly what makes a Grade 1 band tick: music that sounds impressive without overwhelming young musicians. The mallet writing here is genuinely engaging, offering bell players a featured moment that feels substantial rather than ornamental, which matters enormously when you're trying to build enthusiasm for percussion. The Carol itself carries enough melodic warmth that even a simplified arrangement holds real musical substance.
What to expect
The Carol emerges with a gentle, resonant quality through the bells, settling into a contemplative musical space that feels both familiar and arranged with care. Despite its technical ease, the piece carries genuine warmth and the kind of melodic clarity that reminds audiences why this traditional tune endures.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands looking for winter programming that actually motivates their percussion section. Any director aiming to build early instrumental confidence in young players while maintaining musical substance will find the accessible writing refreshing.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the bells prominently in your mix without letting them overpower the ensemble; they anchor the piece's character but shouldn't dominate during full-band sections.
- Address the 2:08 runtime by maintaining a steady tempo throughout; rushing through transitions will compress the piece and reduce its peaceful effect.
- Assign your most reliable percussionist to the bells part if you have the mallet instruments available; this exposure builds confidence and musicianship in a young player.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a winter concert opening that transitions naturally into more demanding selections; it establishes a calm, focused mood without eating rehearsal time that grade 1 bands need elsewhere. It also fits perfectly in holiday programs where you want a concert band moment that sounds polished without requiring weeks of preparation.
Skills your students will build
- Playing mallet instruments with clarity and control
- Balancing a featured percussion part within full ensemble context
- Maintaining steady tempo and phrase shape in a melody-driven arrangement
- Reading and executing Grade 1 concert band literature with confidence