The Santa Express
-
Written for 6 saxophones (AAAATB or AAATTB), this is a light-hearted piece in the Christmas spirit!
It starts with the instrumentalist "huffing" into their instrument to acheive a steam locomotive
sound - very effective when done well - very dangerous with youngsters, but you can always miss the first 8 bars!
The Santa Express has proved highly popular and is also Also available for 2 Altos with Piano, and as a Piano Duet.
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
-
My favourite Christmas arrangement for Saxophones! It covers a range of styles from a heavy gutsy start,
to lyricism and delicacy in the various verses. It can be played as a concert piece or as an accompaniment
for a congregational carol. It works well with doubled parts the more the merrier - but care must be used
to maintain the balance all the parts are so enjoyable to play it is easy to get carried away!
| God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen - Trad |
Moderate
|
Personent Hodie - Fantasia
(Saxophone Quartet).
- This Christmas Carol is based on an old German melody made popular by Gustav Holst. It has a strong driving
melody and is usually sung by the men of a choir. This arrangement uses the melody quite loosely and exploits
its ambiguous rhythmic feel. A soprano part is available although its range necessitates some compromises.
If you would a like a shorter version (or wish to avoid the Fugue), a judicious cut may be made from
the last beat of the bar before letter G to the upbeat to letter J.
| Personent Hodie - Trad |
Moderate
|
For Unto Us a Child is Born
from "The Messiah" is frequently performed at Christmas, and this arrangement
is fun to play and not too difficult, although Alto 1 needs to be a bit nifty around the high notes.
This arrangement is best suited to AATB but I've included a Soprano part in case you want to play SATB
but if you do, you also need the SATB 2nd Alto part instead of the original Alto 2 part.
| For Unto Us a Child is Born - Handel |
Moderate
|
The
Huron Carol
(Quintet AAATB or AATTB)
has one of the most beautiful and simple melodies I know and I just had to do something
with it for saxophones. The result has a slightly "rocky" feel and is not an accompaniment for choir, just
incidental music for the season, and would work particularly well in a resonant acoustic. The 3rd Alto part
is an alternative for 1st Tenor and needs a strong player.
| Huron Carol - Canadian Trad. |
Moderate
|
A Winter's Tale (Christmas Lullaby)
(3 Bb Cls, 2 Alto Sax and Bs Cl)
- Soothing music to lull your children to sleep, but like all good stories there are moments of intrigue and suspense.
This is the original scoring for 3 Bb Clarinets, 2 Alto Saxophones and Bass Clarinet although I have it in mind to
add words as a Christmas carol. The individual parts are not hard but they are quite independent at times. Listen to the
MP3 to hear a performance. Also available for Wind Band.
Dasher and Dancer (5Bb and BsCl) - A light hearted piece in a Christmas mood. Written for 5 clarinets and Bass Clarinet the parts get easier as you go down the list. Parts 1,2,3 are about grade 5-6 standard, with part 4 being for grade 4 players and part 5 almost entirely lower register. This was written so that all my pupils in one school could join in, no matter what their standard, with the lower parts being doubled up. There is also a part for Jingles which adds a festive touch.
Santa Express
- In the depths of Kent at Christmas time, the Steam Railways run "Santa Specials" as a Christmas treat for the young
and old alike. I hope this composition gives a hint of both Christmas and the locomotives which will certainly be my
young sons' favourite treat of the season. This version has been requested for Flute and Piano - the original being
for 6 saxophones and it is also available for 2 Altos and piano, and for orchestra.
| Santa Express - Alun Cook |
Moderate
|
Fanfare to O Come! All Ye Faithful
- This Fanfare may be played either as an introduction to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" or as an interlude before the
final verse. It is scored for 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns (although 2 will do) 3 Trombones, Tuba and optional Euphonium.
Timpani and Cymbals parts are included although not essential. There is also a Wind Band version of the
complete carol (including a new descant) and the Fanfare is identical, so if you are buying that,
you don't need to buy this!
| Fanfare to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" - Alun Cook |
Moderate/Hard
|
Dasher and Dancer
- A light hearted piece in a Christmas mood. Originally written for a clarinet ensemble, its popularity has
led to this arrangement for full band. It is very busy for the woodwind players but not actually too difficult.
Large scores do not always play well through scorch so I have included an MP3 which, although not a real band,
gives a better idea of the over all sound.
| Dasher and Dancer - Alun Cook |
Moderate
|
O Come! All Ye Faithful
- The Fanfare may be played either as an introduction to O Come, All Ye Faithful or as an interlude before the final verse.
In the printed score, the Fanfare is written at the start, but the final page of the score contains a standard introduction in
case you wish to play the Fanfare before the final verse. The score is slightly condensed for clarity, with some
instruments sharing a stave (bassoon 1 and 2 etc) but the parts are all individual, again for ease of reading.
A vocal part is also included with the new descant. If you just want the Fanfare, look for the Brass version
In Dulci Jubilo
- The original is written for two choirs with two solo trumpets. For performance I suggest these soloists are placed on
either side of the band. There is a choice of parts for the soloists, either individual parts or combined. The
standard of the band parts would suit performers of about grade 6 standard, but the two solo trumpets need to be Grade 8
standard (and confident).
| In Dulci Jubilo - Samuel Scheidt |
Moderate
|
2000 Years
- A carol with a message - very plain and simple at the start but with a point to make. Originally intended for young voices,
but would adapt well to having adult voices, especially joining in the verse (bar 19). The choir 2 part (3rd time bar)
is optional but desirable.
| 2000 Years - Alun Cook |
Moderate
|
The New Religion
- A Carol for the frustrated shopper? The words may be changed to suit local shops or individual
aunts? New Religion? It seems to be!
A Christmas Message
- A Christmas Message - Written for a Carol Festival in 1995 where it was performed by combined choirs from five
local primary schools with (accompanied by the West Kent Wind Band), and has since been adapted to be suitable
for older voices. It choir parts split into 3 lines in the verses, and these are not difficult to get together.
The chorus is in harmony (mostly 2 part) but this is harder to do and the harmonies may be ignored if need be.
The Santa Express.
- In the depths of Kent at Christmas time, the Steam Railways run "Santa Specials" as a Christmas treat for young and
old alike. I hope this composition gives a hint of both Christmas and the locomotives which will certainly be my young
son's favourite treat of the season. Grade standard is about 6-7, and possibly not quite as hard to play as it may
at first sound. Have fun! Also available for Orchestra, Flute and Piano, and for saxophones.
| The Santa Express - Alun Cook |
Moderate
|
The Santa Express.
- At Christmas in the depths of the English countryside on the Kent and Sussex border, steam railways
run Santa Specials as a Christmas treat for young and old alike. My original score was for saxophones,
but its popularity has led me to scores it for orchestra where I think it sits very well. The score is
not too demanding (deliberatley) and the more unusual orchestral instrument may be omitted
(piccolo, cor anglais, bass trombone, harp, and horns 3 and 4). The MP3 file is only synthesized
but it gives a good impression of the piece.