I'll Be Home for Christmas

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Walter Kent (arr. James Swearingen)

General Info

Year: 1943 / 1990
Duration: c. 3:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Bing Crosby vocal
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00   |   Score Only (print) - $6.00

For further availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

• Bells
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

I'll Be Home for Christmas is a Christmas song recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby, who scored a top ten hit with the song. The song was written by the lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent.

Originally written to honor soldiers overseas in World War II who longed to be home at Christmastime, I'll Be Home for Christmas has since gone on to become a Christmas standard.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Austin (Tx.) Civic Wind Ensemble (Robert Laguna, conductor) - 11 December 2022
• Reno (Nev.) Wind Symphony (A. G. “Mack” McGrannahan III, conductor) - 11 December 2021
• Charlottesville (Va.) Municipal Band (Stephen R. Layman, conductor) – 15 December 2019
• Charlottesville (Va.) Municipal Band (Stephen R. Layman, conductor) – 9 December 2018
• West Craven High School (Vanceboro, N.C.) Symphonic Band (Jon Gifford, conductor) – December 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

• Ah, But It Happens (arr, Warrington) (1948)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas (arr. Giroux) (1943/)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas (arr. Swearingen) (1943/1990)
• The White Cliffs of Dover (arr. Briegel) (1941)

Resources

• Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Walter Kent." Accessed 23 September 2017
• I'll Be Home for Christmas. Wikipedia Accessed 23 September 2017
• James Swearingen website
• Perusal score