Yankee Doodle Christmas: E-flat Alto Clarinet
By Mark Williams
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0000804_AC1
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Description
This interesting novelty piece combines your favorite holiday carols with the ever-popular "Yankee Doodle" in skillful counterpoint to produce a unique and enjoyable performance experience. "Joy to the World," "Up On the Housetop," "Jingle Bells," and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" co-exist beautifully with the tune Yankee Doodle in this arrangement from the pen of Mark Williams. Correlated with Accent on Achievement, Book 2, page 24, this arrangement is a perfect choice for your next holiday program.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Yankee Doodle Christmas: E-flat Alto Clarinet 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:
Accent on Achievement
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PC-0000804_AC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams shaped school band literature for generations through his work as both composer and educator. A Chicago native who spent his formative years in Spokane, Washington, he earned degrees from Eastern Washington University and built a distinguished career teaching elementary band while publishing over 200 compositions for band, orchestra, and choir. His work as co-author of the Accent on Achievement Band Method became foundational to countless music programs.
Beyond the classroom, Williams maintained an active presence as a clinician and guest conductor across 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia. He served the 560th Air Force Band as a woodwind performer and arranger, and his compositions earned recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Williams was equally committed to performance, regularly playing bassoon and serving as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band.
Why we love this
Williams demonstrates masterful craftsmanship in weaving four beloved carols and Yankee Doodle into genuine counterpoint rather than simple medley. The piece works equally well as a crowd-pleasing program closer or an accessible teaching tool, and at Grade 1.5 it genuinely engages young musicians without condescending to them.
What to expect
The piece radiates holiday warmth through its familiar melodic material, yet the counterpoint gives it unexpected sophistication and novelty. Hearing Yankee Doodle dance alongside Joy to the World and Jingle Bells creates a witty, celebratory texture that surprises and delights both performers and listeners.
Who it's for
Young concert bands in grades 2 through 4 will find this piece immediately engaging and achievable. Directors seeking a holiday program number that entertains audiences while maintaining musical substance will appreciate Williams's skillful orchestration at this accessible level.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the independent melodic lines carefully during rehearsal; mark which sections carry the primary tune and which support it in counterpoint so students understand the hierarchy of voices.
- Establish a steady, confident tempo that allows the counterpoint to speak clearly without rushing; the novelty lies in the combination of tunes, not in speed.
- Shape each borrowed melody with its own character before combining them, then listen for how the familiar tunes interact; students will enjoy recognizing where each carol lives in the texture.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a finale to a holiday concert, offering audiences a moment of recognition and joy after more traditional seasonal selections. Its accessibility and genuine musical content make it equally suitable as an early-season piece to build ensemble confidence and introduce counterpoint concepts aligned with Accent on Achievement Book 2.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing independent melodic lines simultaneously
- Balancing texture and dynamics within counterpoint
- Maintaining steady pulse while tracking multiple simultaneous themes
- Recognizing and performing familiar melodies in new harmonic contexts