Peter Bloesch Listen

Holiday Pops Music ~
CHAMBER Orchestra & Chorus



OVERVIEW OF MY HOLIDAY CHAMBER MUSIC

These pieces for chorus and chamber orchestra are ideal for orchestras looking for holiday pops music involving fewer players. Even though they have a much smaller instrumentation, they still sound full, rich, and exciting because of the colorful way I've arranged and orchestrated them.

These pieces are equally suitable for a concert setting and for a church service. If you are planning a Festival of Lessons and Carols, these pieces are ideal for such a program — please contact me for specific ideas on how you could create a Festival around these pieces.

Click on a title below to learn more about that piece. On each individual page, you can hear sound clips and see the instrumentation for that piece.

Please note that these pieces use only 6 or fewer wind players, and that the ideal string numbers (4,4,2,2,1) could reduced to 2,2,2,2,1 if necessary. The chorus could be as large as 40, or as small as 12-16 robust singers.



Ding Dong! Merrily on High  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ
Duration:  ca. 4:00   —   Difficulty for chorus:  3/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  4/5

Description:  A colorfully orchestrated setting of this charming carol


Go, Tell It on the Mountain!  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   FULL SCORE EXCERPT   /   CHORAL SCORE EXCERPT  
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration:  ca. 3:00   —   Difficulty for chorus:  3/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  4/5

Description:  A robust setting inspired by the shape-note songs of early America


In the Bleak Midwinter  (arrangement of the Holst melody)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO (of the piano version)   /   
SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE :  $125  
Scoring:  SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration:  ca. 6:00   —   Difficulty for chorus:  2/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  3/5

Description:  A subtle but moving arrangement that's inspired by the serenity of the text


Joy to the World!  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ
Duration:  ca. 3:30   —   Difficulty for chorus:  3/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  4/5

Description:  A dramatic Hollywood style” setting, featuring a fugue in verse 2
NOTE:  Also suitable as a congregational hymn arrangement in a church service


On This Day Earth Shall Ring  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration:  ca. 2:30   —   Difficulty for chorus:  3/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  4/5

Description:  A rousing setting that brings out the medieval flavor of the tune


See, Amid the Winter's Snow  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (minimal divisi) + sop. solo, acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration:  ca. 4:30   —   Difficulty for chorus:  2/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  3/5

Description:  A gentle arrangement that evokes a feeling of peace and tranquility


Sweet Baby, Sleep  (original composition)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon) 
PDF PRICE:  $110
Scoring:  Sop. solo (or full soprano section), acc. by chamber orchestra
Duration:  ca. 3:30   —   Difficulty for soprano(s):  2/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  3/5

Description:  An emotionally stirring setting of the 1641 poem by George Wither


The Holly and the Ivy  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ (obbilgato)
Duration:  ca. 3:30   —   Difficulty for chorus:  2/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  3/5

Description:  A charming arrangement, with a surprise quotation from Bach!


The Seven Joys of Mary  (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO   /   SCORE EXCERPTS (coming soon)
PDF PRICE:  $125
Scoring:  SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra
Duration:  ca. 3:00   —   Difficulty for chorus:  3/5   —   Difficulty for orchestra:  4/5

Description:  A fun and fast-paced arrangement of this delightful traditional carol