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 music involving fewer players. But even though they have a smaller instrumentation, they still sound full, rich, and exciting because of the colorful way I've arranged and orchestrated them. They are also suitable for performance by a larger orchestra — contact me for details.
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.
Please note that these pieces use only 6 or fewer wind players, but the non-solo wind passages could easily be doubled in a larger orchestra. Also, the minimum string numbers (4,4,2,2,1) could easily be increased to create a fuller sound.
Ding Dong! Merrily on High (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP
FULL SCORE EXCERPT (of chamber orch. version)
FULL SCORE EXCERPT (of full orch. version)
PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ
Duration: ca. 3:30 — 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 / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / CHORAL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration: ca. 2:45 — 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) / FULL SCORE EXCERPT
PDF PRICE : $200
Scoring: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration: ca. 6:15 — Difficulty for chorus: 2/5 — Difficulty for orchestra: 3/5
Description: A subtle but moving arrangement of the Holst melody, inspired by the serenity of Christina Rossetti's lovely Christmas poem
Joy to the World! (arrangement)
SOUND CLIP / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ
Duration: ca. 2:40 — 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 / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
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 / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (minimal divisi) + sop. solo, acc. by chamber orchestra and piano
Duration: ca. 5:00 — Difficulty for chorus: 2/5 — Difficulty for orchestra: 3/5
Description: A gentle arrangement that evokes a feeling of peace and tranquility. After a grand climax at the end of the final verse, the orchestral coda then returns to a feeling of serenity.
Sweet Baby, Sleep (original composition)
SOUND CLIP / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $180
Scoring: Sop. solo (or full soprano section), acc. by chamber orchestra
Duration: ca. 6:00 — 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 / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra and organ (obbilgato)
Duration: ca. 3:40 — 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 / FULL SCORE EXCERPT / PDF PRICE: $200
Scoring: SATB (some divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra
Duration: ca. 2:50 — Difficulty for chorus: 3/5 — Difficulty for orchestra: 4/5
Description: A fun and fast-paced arrangement of this delightful traditional carol
