A Whole Lot of Christmas - Various / arr. Douglas E. Wagner

What would December concerts be without those familiar tunes that everyone loves to hear during that time of year? With snippets from twelve of the most recognized carols globally, an energy-packed one-and-half minute up-tempo setting, all without a single altered tone, this is a guaranteed holiday winner. (1:30)

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A Winter Trilogy - Arr. Larry Henry

Let your beginning band students be amazed at how great they can sound, even with limited experience. "Up on the Housetop," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "Deck the Halls" have been arranged to allow each section of the band to shine as the spotlight moves to their instrument. Technical demands are kept to a minimum, using only the first few notes and rhythms found in any beginning band book. This will be a delightful hit at any young band's winter concert! (2:30)

A Winter's Carol - Arr. Mark Williams

Yet another masterful holiday arrangement from Mark Williams! A slow, wintry opening sets the tone for a lovely rendition of "O Come, O Come, Immanuel." The hand-off of running sixteenth notes give students a chance to hone their ensemble skills. A contrasting tutti section provides a rich, majestic scoring of the popular carol, with flourishes in the brass. The closing Adagio section returns to the somber mood of the opening. A wonderful mood-setter for holiday programs!

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A Yiddish Lullaby - By Abraham Goldfaden / arr. Robert Sheldon

"Raisins and Almonds" (Rozhinkes mit Mandlen) is a Jewish lullaby by Abraham Goldfaden (1840--1908) that has become so well-known that it is now considered a folk song. It is a common lullaby among European Jews (Ashkenazim). Correlated to Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 2, Level 2, this lovely arrangement of this beautiful song allows bands to play with expression and color, lending a charming and heartfelt moment to any concert.

A Yuletide Holiday - Various / arr. Roland Barrett

Featuring the well-known Yuletide favorites "Angels from the Realms of Glory," "The Holly and the Ivy," and "Deck the Halls," this festive medley captures the spirit of the season for students and audiences alike. Each carol has roots from the United Kingdom and is charismatically scored, showcasing each section of your band with a wide variety of textures and tempo. Musically compelling! (3:00)

Abaco Overture - By Victor López

This moving new work is inspired by the wild Spanish Barb horses of Abaco, whose existence has been known since the colonization of the Bahamas. Abaco Overture, in contemporary overture-style, includes reminiscent horse-hoof sounds intertwined with the energetic melodic components built upon the rhythmic foundation. It's a stately addition to the young band literature and correlated to work with Band ExpressionsTM Book Two. (5:16)

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Abandoned Toy Shop - By Timothy Loest

Orphaned toys come to life in this eerie tour of an abandoned toy store. The work opens and closes with Victor Herbert's dreamlike Toyland as a Jack-in-the-box plays Pop Goes the Weasel. A wealth of toy sounds make their appearance among diminished chords, tri-tones, and the Dies Irae, which surrounds an aleatoric section featuring a whole host of noisy toys. Highly accessible, extremely creative, and definitely memorable!

Academic Festival Overture - By Johannes Brahms / arr. Douglas Akey

Brahms's Academic Festival Overture was composed in the summer of 1880 for the conferment of his own honorary doctorate of philosophy degree by Breslau University. The piece is based on a number of student songs that would have been familiar to those in attendance at the time. The themes derived from four of those songs have been used in this arrangement for young band and are presented in the same order in which they appear in Brahms's original. Careful attention to the written dynamics and articulations will aid your students in creating an authentic performance of this transcription. A perfect choice for young bands at festival.

Academic Festival Overture - By Johannes Brahms / arr. James D. Ployhar

This Brahms classic is now skillfully scored to be accessible for your concert band. Familiar themes are solidly represented and the distinctive Gaudaemus Igitur concludes this collection of revered themes. (2:03)

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Academic Festival Overture - By Johannes Brahms / arr. Michael Story

Although conceived as a comical academic musical representation by its renowned composer, this overture is lyrical and exciting. There are opportunities for your students to present sudden stylistic changes and tempo shifts which permit for both performance and teaching. It is still used in a variety of settings (even in its comedic intent) in films and on the more serious concert stage. This arrangement includes generous cuing to accommodate incomplete instrumentations. Classic, familiar and even humorous, it is a sure winner for your developing band. (3:45) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.