SKU: MH.1-59913-050-5

ISBN 9781599130507.

Charles Dickens certainly would have known the three carols in A CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS. They were among the best-known and best-loved carols of the Victorian Era, and were a staple of the repertoire of roving waits, or carollers, that appear in his novels. Today this music is as familiar as Santa Claus and Tiny Tim. THE FIRST NOWELL was first collected in Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern by William Sandys in 1833. It is most probably 200 years older than that. The Oxford Book of Carols contains nine verses, which makes it an ideal processional for Christmas or Epiphany (the feast commemorating the coming of the Magi). COVENTRY CAROL, or Lully, Lullay, comes from the medieval tradition of mystery and miracle plays. In 1534 the Pageant of the Shearman and Tailors Guild included a scene in which the mothers of Jewish children sang this haunting lullaby after hearing the horrifying order: Herod the king, In his raging, All young children to slay. The music is anonymous; the text believed to be by Robert Croo. ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH is probably of French origin, but the English long ago adopted it as their own. Besides the French text, Les Anges dans nos compagnes, it is known in several versions and by several titles, including Angels from the Realms of Glory, When the Crimson Sun Had Set, and Westminster Carol. It belongs to a category known as macaronic carols, which mix vernacular verses with Latin refrains - in this instance, Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory be to God on High). Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 8 Flute, 2 Oboe, 1 Bassoon 1, 1 Bassoon 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 1 Eb Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet & Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 1 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 2 F Horn 1, 2 F Horn 2, 2 Trombone 1, 2 Trombone 2, 2 Trombone 3, 3 Euphonium (Bass Clef), 2 Euphonium (Treble Clef), 5 Tubas, 1 Timpani, 2 Bells & Chimes, 3 Percussion 1: small triangle, suspended cymbal, crash cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, 2 Percussion 2: large triangle, finger cymbals.

SKU: CF.SPS82

ISBN 9781491152591. UPC: 680160910090. Key: Bb major.

Resignation was composed in memory of one of Ed Kiefer's best friends. Evoking the struggle of coming to grips with the loss of a dear friend, the piece is based on the hymn, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. It is dramatic, heartfelt, and overwhelmingly beautiful. As Hans Christian Andersen once said, When words fail, music speaks..
Dr. David S. Kirby Commission Consortium Phillip Riggs, Commission CoordinatorNorthwest District Bandmasters AssociationRodney Workman, Past-Chair Andrew Jimeson, ChairWestern North Carolina Bandmasters AssociationAllen Klaes, ChairNorth Carolina School of Science and MathPhillip Riggs, DirectorA.C. Reynolds High School BandSean Smith, DirectorSouth Caldwell High School BandJason Childers, DirectorJay M. Robinson Symphonic BandAndrew Carter, DirectorApex High School BandDaniel Jarvis, DirectorPanther Creek High School BandDavid Robinson, DirectorEastern Randolph High School BandCarolina Perez, DirectorStanley County Concert Band/Pfeiffer University Concert BandCarmella Hedrick, Tim Hedrick and Frank Poolos, DirectorsLenoir Rhyne University Wind SymphonyDr. Daniel Kiser, ConductorDr. Christopher NegrelliNumerous colleagues, fellow teachers, and former studentsProgram NotesThere is no possible way I could compose a piece of music worthy of the memory of my close friend, Dr. David Kirby, who died very suddenly at an early age. Neither could I write a piece that could come close to reflecting his kind spirit, wit, personality or talent. In fact, it was almost impossible for me to write anything at all. My own grief and the stages of my grief kept getting in the way. I ended up with a setting of the hymn-tune, Resignation. Resigned.  To the fact that he is no longer with us. I know he is in a better place, but we are not. We miss him very much. And so, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need seems to speak to those of us he left behind. I apologize if this piece does not reflect your special feelings for him or help you celebrate his moving on. Unfortunately, I could only put down what I have come to accept and hope in some way it may speak to any of you that knew him or to others of you who have also lost a close friend. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. That is my hope and my hope for you.Although technically very easy, this composition requires a maturity of musicianship to be performed properly. The Bb contrabass clarinet part is integral to the composition, but there are cues in the tuba part if you need them.  Make sure you bring horns to the fore at m. 53 and the low brass at m. 59 so the melody can be heard without effort. Exaggerate dynamics to bring more emotion to the piece. Be careful not to diminuendo too soon near the end or it will be difficult to diminish even further at the very end, where the lone clarinetist holds over a couple of measures, fading into nothing. I hope your students will enjoy this piece and take from it a greater appreciation for the way making music can express feelings.

SKU: CF.YPS223

ISBN 9781491156643. UPC: 680160915187. 9 x 12 inches.

Notes to the Conductor This adaptation of Christmas Carol Trilogy was arranged to accompany the choral arrangement of the same title by Russell Robinson. It can be played with Robinson's vocal arrangements with band and chorus together or as a stand-alone piece for band. If performed together with a chorus, it is recommended that the performers play one to two dynamic levels lower than written (depending on the size of the chorus) so as not to overpower the singers. Please see the chart below for further explanation.   Written Dynamic (To be used if band alone) Large Chorus (1 dynamic lower) Small Chorus (2 dynamics lower) mf f ff mp mf f   p mp mf     Another possibility for performance is for a small group of wind instruments with chorus. Here, performers would play the written dynamics. Below are a few recommended chamber ensembles that would work with a variety of choruses, though there are several other alternatives. In any case, the conductor should be careful to choose a set of instruments that is both balanced in register (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and in role (melody, countermelody, bass line, etc.) Option 1 (Woodwind Sextet) Flute (Oboe) Clarinet 1 Clarinet 2 Alto Saxophone Tenor Saxophone (Bassoon) Baritone Saxophone (Bass Clarinet) Option 2 (Brass Quintet) Trumpet 1 Trumpet 2 Horn Trombone (Baritone) Tuba (Baritone Saxophone) A final option is to perform with one player per instrumental part. In all instances, the conductor should pay close attention to the balance of the percussion instruments.
Notes to the Conductor This adaptation of Christmas Carol Trilogy was arranged to accompany the choral arrangement of the same title by Russell Robinson. It can be played with Robinson’s vocal arrangements with band and chorus together or as a stand-alone piece for band. If performed together with a chorus, it is recommended that the performers play one to two dynamic levels lower than written (depending on the size of the chorus) so as not to overpower the singers. Please see the chart below for further explanation. Written Dynamic(To be used if band alone)Large Chorus(1 dynamic lower)Small Chorus(2 dynamics lower)mffffmpmff pmpmf  Another possibility for performance is for a small group of wind instruments with chorus. Here, performers would play the written dynamics. Below are a few recommended chamber ensembles that would work with a variety of choruses, though there are several other alternatives. In any case, the conductor should be careful to choose a set of instruments that is both balanced in register (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and in role (melody, countermelody, bass line, etc.)Option 1 (Woodwind Sextet)Flute (Oboe)Clarinet 1Clarinet 2Alto SaxophoneTenor Saxophone (Bassoon)Baritone Saxophone (Bass Clarinet)Option 2 (Brass Quintet)Trumpet 1Trumpet 2HornTrombone (Baritone)Tuba (Baritone Saxophone)A final option is to perform with one player per instrumental part. In all instances, the conductor should pay close attention to the balance of the percussion instruments.

SKU: CF.SPS11

ISBN 9780825843747. UPC: 798408043742. 9 X 12 inches. Key: D minor.

A brilliant and contrapuntally elaborate fantasy on the haunting and beautiful Christmas carol, Greensleeves, (a.k.a. What Child Is This), this is one of Del Borgo's most powerful symphonic sketches. The fragments of the tune are assembled and re-assembled in ever more inventive ways and the scoring is expert and full of the signature colorful Del Borgo percussion writing. Duration: 5' 30.

SKU: CF.YPS186F

ISBN 9781491148082. UPC: 680160905584. 9 x 12 inches.

Journey of the Magi is a fantastical piece based on the well-known Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are. After an introduction reflecting the nobility and Eastern origins of the travelers, there are three contrasting settings of the carol's verse and two of the chorus. The royal caravan then fades in to the distance as the three Kings continue their journey and search.