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Christmas Song, The (arr Nowak)
Mel Tormé (arr. Jerry Nowak)
Subtitle: Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
General Info
Year: 1945 / 1974 / 1982
Duration: c. 3:20
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Song
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute I-II (I doubling Piccolo)
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet/Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Drum Set (optional)
- Orchestra Bells
- Sleigh Bells
- Vibraphone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Christmas Song (commonly subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire or, as it was originally subtitled, Merry Christmas to You) is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé.
According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born. "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells') piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Media
None discovered thus far.
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Kanawha Valley (W. Va.) Community Band (David Williams, conductor) - 16 December 2022
- Westside Community Band (Cincinnati, Ohio)(Kenny Bierschenk, conductor) – 3 December 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- The Christmas Song (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1945/2011)
All Wind Works
- The Christmas Song (arr. Biondi) (1945)
- The Christmas Song (arr. Cacavas) (1945/1959)
- The Christmas Song (arr. Higgins) (1945/1996)
- The Christmas Song (arr. Nowak) (1945/1974/1982)
- The Christmas Song (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1945/2011)
Resources
- The Christmas Song, Wikipedia Accessed 29 December 2016
- Tormé, M.; Wells, R.; Nowak, J. (1982). The Christmas Song: (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) [score]. Edwin H. Morris; [s.l.].