Holidays with the Orchestra Wednesday, October 02, 2019
recommended by Dan C. and Megan W., Orchestra Specialists
Hanukkah Dances arr. Katie O’Hara-Labrie, Grade 1.5
Liven up your holiday concert with a medley of four familiar Hanukkah tunes that are perfect for beginning to advanced levels. Everyone gets a chance to play the melody in this exciting arrangement. Technical considerations include optional shifting for 1st violins while cellos work on extensions.
TEACH • D major/D minor, cascading entrances, overlapping tunes
ORCHESTRATION • melodies for everyone, sometimes overlapped
PERFORMANCE • delightful Hanukkah medley for the season
We Three Kings Rule arr. Susan H. Day, Grade 2
Ms. Day’s creative arrangement takes this popular carol outside the box by working in 4/4 and 3/4 time! Her signature rich harmonic underpinnings fill out the sound of the orchestra and the occasional harmonics given to 1st Violins is icing on the cake.
TEACH • violin harmonic E, arpeggios, melody in 4/4 and 3/4
ORCHESTRATION • melody shared with active accompaniments
PERFORMANCE • unique, clever rendition of a well-known carol
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas arr. Larry Moore, Grade 3-4
A medium-level arrangement of the novelty holiday song, written by John Rox in 1953.
TEACH • rhythms in 6/8 time, “roadmap” reading, chromaticism
ORCHESTRATION • melody shared, but mostly in violin 1 & cello
PERFORMANCE • entertaining program filler for a holiday concert
All I Want for Christmas Is You arr. Larry Moore, Grade 3-4
Medium level arrangement of the most popular holiday song of 1994. Includes optional piano, electric bass, and percussion.
TEACH • pop music syncopations, D#/Eb, triplets, D.S. al Coda
ORCHESTRATION • rock bass plus piano, drumset & sleigh bells
PERFORMANCE • relatively current pop song for a holiday concert
About the Authors:
Dan C. has worked at Stanton’s since 1979, primarily with orchestra music and print promotions. A “working” musician, he’s a classical cellist, a rock & jazz bassist and a folk & country guitarist/singer. His free time is spent with family or reading, gardening, cycling and working puzzles. His series of musical puzzles (RP3 Rebus Puzzle Picture People) can be found on the Stanton’s Facebook page each Sunday. He also has a reputation as a pretty good joke teller, and is recently retired – congrats, Dan!
Megan W., originally from Pittsburgh PA, is happy to call Columbus and Stanton’s Sheet Music “Home.” As a musician, Megan has played in marching and concert bands, youth orchestras, full orchestras, small ensembles, and a few choirs. Her interests include fiddling, reading, writing, martial arts and yoga.