We Wish You a Merry Christmas: Score
Arranged by Jacques Rizzo
Grade: 2
Item: 98-DB1105S
$5.00
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Description
You can almost hear the bells ringing throughout the countryside in this beautifully scored old English carol. The familiar melody is skillfully passed around different sections of the band for a great deal of variety and color. An excellent addition to your library for many seasons to come. (2:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1105S
More about this title
About the Composer: Jacques Rizzo
Jacques Rizzo is a prolific composer and arranger whose work appears regularly in school band and orchestra curricula across North America. His arrangements are known for their attention to orchestration and accessibility, making them favorites among directors working with developing ensembles.
Why we love this
Rizzo's arrangement respects what makes this carol timeless while using the full band to create genuine orchestral color. The section-to-section melody passing gives every player a moment in the spotlight, which keeps rehearsals engaging and helps younger musicians feel the weight of individual responsibility. At Grade 2, it's sophisticated enough to feel like a real concert offering, not a throwaway holiday filler.
What to expect
Warm and gently picturesque. The arrangement evokes the image of carolers moving through a snow-dusted village, with the melody drifting from group to group like voices carried on the winter air. The familiar tune feels both grounded and luminous in this scoring.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands looking for a polished holiday selection that gives every section meaningful material to play. This works equally well for fall festivals, winter concerts, or end-of-year programs where you want something recognizable but musically substantial.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between sections as it passes around the band. Bring out whichever section is carrying the tune while keeping the harmonic foundation steady in the lower voices.
- Shape the phrases gently. This carol breathes naturally in four- and eight-bar chunks; let that shape guide your tempo and dynamic contours rather than playing it flat or metronomic.
- Listen carefully to blend when the melody transitions between instruments. A clean handoff requires the incoming section to hear exactly where the outgoing section is going.
How to use it
Slot this in the second half of a winter concert, after a few more serious selections. Its brevity (2:00) and immediate accessibility make it an excellent bridge between substantial repertoire and a lighter finale, or use it to open a holiday-themed program on a warm, conversational note.
Skills your students will build
- Passing principal melodies between sections while maintaining musical continuity
- Balancing part independence with ensemble cohesion
- Shaping legato phrasing across four- and eight-bar phrases
- Listening across the ensemble to track moving melodic material