No. 313 Cornet Solo - Jingle Bells (Richard E Holz Sr.)
This piece takes the form of a competition or dialogue between soloist and band. The piece was written as a short media stunt where a diminutive soloist starts out slowly building in speed and technical agility. The references to Erik Leidzen's various settings of Jingle Bells are entirely intentional!
No. 314 A Little Christmas Suite (Ruben Schmidt)
This suite was written for Solingen Salvation Army Band's annual Christmas concert and features three Christmas songs; 'I saw three ships', O little town of Bethlehem' and 'We wish you a merry Christmas'.
No. 315 Wexford Carol (Traditional arr. Dorothy Gates)
This traditional Irish Christmas carol originates from County Wexford and dates from the 12th Century.
No. 316 Mary, Did You Know? (Buddy Greene arr. David Catherwood)
This song was written in 1984 and first gained popular success when recorded by country music artist Kathy Mattea. A duet version recorded by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers followed and the song has since been recorded by artists such as Hayley Westenra, Reba McEntire and Mary J Blige.
Although nine instrumentalists may adequately present music in the American Band Journal, the scoring is designed to work equally well or better with a full compliment. For nine brass instrumentalists, two cornetists should be assigned to the 1st cornet part because of the frequent use of divisi, with one 2nd cornet, two horns, two trombones, one euphonium and one tuba completing the minimum group.
Optional parts (for soprano cornet, flugel horn, baritone, bass trombone and percussion) are all included. The music is complete without these parts but their use will greatly enhance the performance, as long as the fundamental parts are covered. A free set of transposed parts in F and C (treble/bass clef) is available on request.
