Category: Christmas Music Composers: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin Arranger: Hannah Hawken
Cornet Solo.
Some musical numbers require little introduction and the hit that is ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ has been entertaining audiences since its first appearance back in 1944. Original sung by Julie Garland in the MGM musical ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’, the song was later revised and re-recorded. It was this second incarnation that is the popular song that we know today. Christmas solos are a novelty and now, arranged by Hannah Hawkden, this lovely little number fits perfectly into any Christmas concert giving your band and audience something fresh this year.
When I set out to arrange traditional Christmas carols I was determined that they should not be yet another run-of-the-mill, strophic, verse-by-verse version of our Christmas heritage. I have tried to treat each carol in the collection as the basis for a Petite Fantasie - a continuous, single-movement of variations on the original tune. Of course, the carol is heard in its traditional form at some point during the arrangement but hopefully its appeal is enhanced without destroying the traditional concept. In particular, I Saw Three Ships becomes a Gigue while the Coventry Carol and Veni, Veni, Emmanuel inevitably are modal. The collection is, in all, a delightful mixture of musical styles through the ages." Leslie Pearson
Category: Christmas Music Composer: Traditional Arranger: Jock McKenzie
Duration: 2:00 Minutes
Percussion section requires: Drum Kit, Tambourine and Wood Blocks
This traditional folk carol was collected by Cecil Sharp and was published in his collection ‘English Folk-Carols’ in 1911. Sharp states that he heard the tune sung by Mrs Mary Clayton at Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Variants of the carol’s lyrics appeared in various publications around the English Midlands, most notably in Birmingham in the early 19th century. My arrangement focuses’ on the line from the carol’s refrain “and the running of the deer” – influencing both choice pace and the ‘hurdles’ to be jumped over.
Jock McKenzie studied trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester where he was a joint recipient of the college’s concerto prize. Since 1987 Jock has based his musical career in Hampshire, working as a freelance trumpeter, conductor, composer, arranger and brass teacher. Currently Jock holds the position of Professional Leader (Brass) for Hampshire Music Service and is the Director of the Hampshire County Youth Band. It is the mix of all of these musical roles that has led to Jock establishing a reputation as a leading creator of brass music resources, particularly in the field of education and brass ensemble music.
Category: Christmas Music Composer: Greg Lake Arranger: Gavin Somerset
Released in 1975, this well loved song was written intentionally by as a protest about the commercialisation of Christmas. The release saw it shoot to No.2 in the charts and remains Greg Lake’s only hit solo release. The instrumental riff used between verses is the tune from “Troika” by Sergei Prokofiev that has aided its popularity. This piece is familiar to all audiences, perfect to get them in the mood for your Christmas concerts & get them singing along.
Category: Christmas Music Composer: Traditional Arranger: Jock McKenzie
Programme Notes
This is a traditional English carol rumoured to have originated in Derbyshire. The earliest printed version is from the 17thcentury and the familiar version was later published in William Sandys’ collection of ‘Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern’ in 1833. There are numerous theories as to the meaning of the carol’s words; after all, Bethlehem, the place of Jesus’ birth is not a coastal location. It has been suggested that the ships are actually camels (ships of the desert) used by the Magi for their visit to the baby Jesus. My arrangement takes advantage of the traditional ‘jig’ style of this carol to add a little ‘Celtic’ flavour.
Categories: Solos, Christmas Music Arranger: Leslie Pearson
"When I set out to arrange traditional Christmas carols I was determined that they should not be yet another run-of-the-mill, strophic, verse-by-verse version of our Christmas heritage. I have tried to treat each carol in the collection as the basis for a Petite Fantasie - a continuous, single-movement of variations on the original tune. Of course, the carol is heard in its traditional form at some point during the arrangement but hopefully its appeal is enhanced without destroying the traditional concept. In particular, I Saw Three Ships becomes a Gigue while the Coventry Carol and Veni, Veni, Emmanuel inevitably are modal. The collection is, in all, a delightful mixture of musical styles through the ages." Leslie Pearson
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