‘Christmas Colours’ is a palette consisting of several Christmas songs. Bruce Fraser has mainly used the colours green (the colour of holly) and white (the colour of snow). This composition begins with the chiming of festive bells - if you listen well however you can already hear short fragments from 'The Holly and the Ivy' whose entire melody is finally played alternated with 'The Sussex Carol'. After this the pace slows down and the stately 'See amid the Winter Snow' sounds but parts from 'Jingle Bells' and 'Silent Night' can also be heard. Then after walking under 'The Holly and the Ivy' once again the celebration of Christmas may begin!

Robert Frank made a wonderful arrangement of this Christmas carol for Bb or Eb soloist and fanfare band which sounds excellent especially on alto saxophone.

Whereas ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....‘ many people take their refuge to lyrics like ‘rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne’. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year’s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions – sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

Fantasy on Old Carols-Good Christian Men Rejoice ? God Rest You Merry Gentlemen ? Come Ye Lofty Come ? The First Nowell / La musique de Noël de Gustav Holst est touchante par sa fraîcheur et sa chaleur. Composée en 1910 cette fantaisie basée sur quatre noëls anglais anciens témoigne de la créativité et de l?imagination du compositeur. Originellement pour Chœur mixte et Orchestre ou Orgue Robert van Beringen en a réalisé cet arrangement pour Orchestre d?Harmonie et Chœur (ad lib.).

The pilgrim's song 'Deilig er Jorden ' can be called an international carol. The Norwegian text was written by Danish poet Inge Bernhardmann on a melody of Polish origin. A majestic carol! Therefore particularly suitable as an opening work for your Christmas concert. Optional with organ.

Le compositeur-arrangeur japonais Takashi Hoshide a rassemblé six noëls internationaux dans un medley pétillant au charme d?antan. Une manière originale et authentique de célébrer Noël en musique.