I spent the last 2 days in the Hellenic Community Centre in Vancouver for Long & McQuade’s concert band reading clinics. It woke up my muse, dormant for a few months now, and she was ready to go. It didn’t matter how late into the night she kept me up, apparently I really needed to arrange my own melody with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for beginning band.
Atop Whistlers Mountain in Jasper National Park
This is a re-imagined a cappella version of Go Tell It On The Mountain, with more modern lyrics and a melody that gets blues-ier the further you travel. It’s a relaxed swing, with solo opportunities in the third verse.
The melody came to me as I was waking up, and I went straight to the piano to plunk it out. I was partly inspired by an old favourite beginning band tune that I had just handed out called ‘Bag O’ Blues’, where students get their first taste of b7. And I was partly inspired by my partner’s complaints about how basses never get to sing melody. Well Michael, this one’s for you.
PDF: Go Tell It (On The Mountain) SATB
If you perform any of my works, please email me at heather (dot) k (dot) graves (at) gmail (dot) com, as I would love to hear others’ versions of my compositions. Thanks! Please also contact me if you would like the MuseScore file.
It’s a very long (and, I admit, cheesy) name for an arrangement of Christmas carols for beginning concert band. It features Carol of the Bells, Silent Night, and Jingle Bells. Two trumpet parts are provided for both your hotshots, and for those who love the low notes. Hope your students find it satisfying!
PDF: Richardson Yuletide Rumble Score and Parts
If you perform any of my works, please email me at heather (dot) k (dot) graves (at) gmail (dot) com, as I would love to hear about performances of my compositions. Thanks! Please also contact me if you would like the MuseScore or midi file.
Recharged from the summer, I delved into the carol book and discovered an Old French gem. Not having grown up with this carol made it easy to re-harmonize the melody for a cappella treble choir. I also reworked some of the lyrics to focus on the joy I feel every holiday season. Merry Christmas!
PDF: Bring A Torch SSA
Midi: Bring A Torch midi
Heather Graves Soderling 