Russian Christmas Music

Alfred Reed

General Info

Year: 1944
Duration: c. 14:25
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $85.00 | Score Only - $12.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo I-II (I doubling Flute III, II doubling Flute IV)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn (optional)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III (all div. a2)
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (div. a2)
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional)
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II (7 players), including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Gong (or Tam-Tam)
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Xylophone

Errata

In Parts:

Bassoon I, m.117: delete quarter rests on beat 3 and 6, leave the half rest [There should be only four beats in this measure.]
B-flat Clarinet I, m.111: Replace 3/4 time signature with a 3/2 time signature
B-flat Bass Clarinet, m.18, beat 2: Add a tenuto on the D.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.18, beat 2: Add a tenuto on the D.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.59: Remove the "mf" dynamic marking.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.225, beat 4: Change tenuto to an accent.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.215-216: Should be a String Bass and Bass Clarinet cue.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.236-237: Remove the tie in between the two whole notes on m.236 and 237.
Contrabass Clarinet, m.237: Add an accent to the whole note E4.
B-flat Tenor Saxophone, reh. 32: Add 2/2 meter signature.
B-flat Bass Saxophone, m.19: Add tenutos to all three quarter notes.
B-flat Bass Saxophone, m.42: Add tenuto to whole note.
B-flat Bass Saxophone, m.237: Add "f" dynamic marking to eighth note.
B-flat Cornet II, m.15, beat 1 (oboe cue): change last 16th note (D) to a quarter note.
Baritone TC, m.220: beat 4. The four 16th notes should be 32nd notes.
Percussion II, Chimes and Bells, m.188, beat 1: The C-sharp should be a C-natural.
Percussion II, Chimes and Bells, m.195, beat 4: The C-natural should be a C-sharp.

Program Notes

Reed was commissioned to write Russian Christmas Music a mere 14 days before it was scheduled to be performed and broadcast live on NBC. Originally written in November 1944, the work was first performed in December of that year in Denver, Colorado. Two years later, the piece was elaborated and revised, and in that form was one of the three prize-winning work in the 1947 Columbia University contest for new serious music for symphonic band.

An ancient Russian Christmas carol (Carol of the Little Russian Children) is mixed with motives from orthodox liturgical music from the Eastern Orthodox Church. Though set as a single piece, the composer originally subtitled the four easily separated sections Children's Carol, Antiphonal Chant, Village Song, and Cathedral Chorus. Reed also utilized this theme as well as the “Cathedral Chorus” section as source material for Slavonic Folk Suite, a piece written for novice musicians.

- Program Notes excerpted from score and Western Michigan University Symphonic Band concert program, 21 November 2021

Media

Audio CD: Charles A. Sprague High School Wind Ensemble (Ike Nail, conductor) – 2001
Audio CD: Dobyns-Bennett High School Symphonic Band (Lafe Cook, conductor) - 2009
Audio CD: Otonowa Wind Symphonica (Alfred Reed, conductor)

State Ratings

Alabama: Class AA
Arkansas: V
Florida: V
Georgia: VI
Iowa: V
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
Kansas: V
Louisiana: V
Maryland: V
Massachusetts: V
Michigan: Senior High AA
Mississippi: VI-A
New York: Concert Band VI
North Carolina: VI
Oklahoma: V-A
South Carolina: VI
Tennessee: VI
Texas: V. Complete
Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Wyoming (Laramie) Wind Symphony (Robert Belser, conductor) - 10 December 2022
Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble (Hampton, Va.) (William Garlette, conductor) - 10 December 2022
Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee) Concert Band (Daniel Hubert, conductor) - 9 December 2022
Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) - 8 December 2022
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla) Wind Symphony (Kyle Wernke, conductor) - 11 November 2022
University of Wyoming (Laramie) Wind Symphony (Robert Belser, conductor) - 10 November 2022
United States Army Field Band II (Fort Meade, Md.) (Jim R. Keane, conductor) - 15 December 2021 (2021 Midwest Clinic)
Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Orchestra (Luke Camarillo, conductor) - 1 December 2021
Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (R. Mark Rogers, conductor; Rachel Hollon James, narrator) - 20 December 2020
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Glenn Hayes, conductor) – 20 March 2020 (Carnegie Hall, New York) (scheduled, but concert canceled)
Springdale (Ark.) Har-Ber High School Wind Ensemble (Jeremy Ford, conductor) – 10 March 2020
Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Wind Symphony (Don L. Peterson, conductor) – 12 December 2019
Wilmot (Wisc.) High School Wind Ensemble (John Sorensen, conductor) – 11 December 2019
University of Arizona (Tucson) Wind Symphony (Chad Shoopman, conductor) – 10 December 2019
Clovis (Calif.) East High School Wind Ensemble (Marco Mellone, Conductor) - 10 December 2019
Muskegon (Mich.) Community College Wind Ensemble (Daniel M. Meyers, conductor) – 9 December 2019
Johnson City (Tenn.) Community Concert Band (Christian Zembower, conductor) - 9 December 2019
Angelo State University (San Angelo, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Jonathan Alvis, conductor) – 6 December 2019
West Seattle (Wash.) Community Orchestra Wind Orchestra (Anton Coleman, conductor) – 6 December 2019
University of Kansas (Lawrence) Symphonic Band (Matthew O. Smith, conductor) – 4 December 2019
University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Symphony (Jason Silveira, conductor) – 23 November 2019
Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (Barry Kraus, conductor) – 20 November 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
A Festival Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Haga) (1962/2019)
Two Bagatelles (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1983/1997/2010)

All Wind Works

Acclamation!
Alleluia! Laudamus Te (1973)
Arioso (as arranger) (1729/1998)
Armenian Dances (1972-1978)
- Armenian Dances, Part One (1972/1974)
- Armenian Dances, Part Two (1978)
Around the World in 80 Days: Selections (as arranger; ed. Rogers) (1957/2017)
Autumn Leaves (as arranger; ed. Rogers) (1947/2017)
Ballade (1956/1999)
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 Suite (as arranger) (1965)
Berceuse and Finale from "The Firebird" (as editor; arr. McAlister) (1910/2005)
The Big East March (1997)
Canto e Camdombe
Carmen (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1875/2000)
A Celebration Fanfare (1989)
A Ceremonial Fanfare (1971)
Ceremony of Flourishes (1964)
Chanson Triste (as arranger) (1878/1989)
Characteristic Dances from "The Nutcracker Suite" (as editor with McAlister; tr. Rogan) (1892/2001)
Children's Suite (2000)
A Christmas Suite (1974)
Chorale Prelude in E minor (1953/1966)
A Christmas Celebration (1987)
A Christmas Intrada (1980)
Clear Track Polka (as arranger) (1869/2000)
Come, Sweet Death (as arranger) (1736/1976)
Come, Sweet Death (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
Concertino (as arranger; ed. McCathren) (1811/1962)
Concertino for Marimba and Winds (1993)
Concerto for Trumpet and Winds (1995/1997)
- Sonata
- Slow Blues, Jazz Waltz
- Song, Samba
Curtain Up! (1991)
Dance of the Hours (as editor; tr. Kennedy) (1876/)
Danza Caribe (1986)
Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (as arranger) (1653/1724/1990)
Divertimento for Flute and Band (1998)
Double Wind Quintet (1975)
East and West (2003)
El Camino Real (1985)
El Camino Real (arr. Longfield) (1985/2013)
The Enchanted Island (1980)
The Entertainer (as arranger) (1902/1974)
Evolutions (1993)
Exhortation and Praise (2003)
Fanfare and Processional (2005)
The Fantasticks (as arranger) (1966)
Fantasy on "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" (as arranger) (1973)
A Festival Prelude (1962)
A Festival Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Haga) (1962/2019)
A Festive Overture (1963)
Fifth Suite for Band (1995)
Fifth Symphony (1995)
Finlandia (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1900/2004)
First Suite for Band (1975)
Five Cameos (2002)
Five Dances for Five Clarinets and Band
Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (as arranger) (c. 1736/1985)
Fourth Suite for Band (1994)
Fourth Symphony (1992)
French Suite
Funiculi Funicula (as arranger) (1880/1994)
The Garden of Proserpine
Giligia (2000)
Golden Eagle (1989/1995)
Golden Jubilee (1987)
The Golden Year (1997)
Greensleeves (1993/2011)
Gypsy Dance (as arranger) (1872/1997)
Havana Moon
Highlights from "Exodus" (as arranger) (1960/1962)
Highlights from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" (as arranger) (1963/1965)
The Hounds of Spring (1981)
Huldigungsmarsch (as editor) (1864/2002)
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1853/2002)
Hymn Variants (1992)
I Left my Heart in San Francisco (as transcriber; ed. Rogers) (1954/1963)
Imperatrix (1972)
In Dulci Jubilo (as arranger) (1970)
In Memoriam (1972)
Intrada Drammatica (1968/1992)
Jazz Waltz. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (1723/1981)
Jidai (2001)
Joyeux Noël (Brass Ensemble) (1998)
Joyeux Noël (Wind Ensemble) (1998/2001/2002)
A Jubilant Overture (1970)
A Jubilant Overture (arr. Conaway) (1970/2011)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (1995)
L’Arlésienne Suite No 2 (as editor, with McAlister) (1872/2002)
Laid-Back Rag
Light Cavalry Overture (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1866/2003)
A Little Concert Suite (1984)
Lumberjack Overture
Macarena (as arranger) (1992)
Mancini! (as arranger) (1965)
March Grandioso (as arranger) (1901/1969)
Mary Poppins (as arranger) (1964/2006)
Might and Majesty
Millennium III (1999)
Mr. Music (1990)
The Music-Makers (1968)
Music for Hamlet (1973/2018)
Music in the Air! (2000)
The Music Man: Highlights (as arranger) (1957/1959)
My Fair Lady (as arranger) (1956/?)
My Heart Is Filled With Longing (as arranger) (c. 1710/1986)
Nimrod (as arranger) (1899/1965)
Nocturne (as arranger) (1886/1953/1975)
A Nordic Trilogy (with Erickson and Davis) (1967)
A Northern Legend (1972)
O Little Town (as arranger)
O Most Wonderful (as arranger)
Ode for Trumpet (1956)
Old and New (2002)
Othello (1977)
Our Father Who Art in Heaven (as arranger) (1710/1988)
Passacaglia (1967)
Pavane for a Dead Princess (as orchestrator; ed. McAlister) (1899/1988)
Piccolo Concerto in C major (as arranger) (1728-29/1962/1969)
Pilgrim's Chorus (as arranger) (1845/1991)
The Pledge of Allegiance (1970)
Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 2 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 3 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 4 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
Praise Jerusalem! (1986)
Prelude IV (as arranger) (1722/1983)
Prelude and Capriccio (1978)
Prelude, Op. 9, No. 1 (as arranger) (1894/1985)
Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin" (as arranger, with McAlister) (1850/2006)
Presentation of the Silver Rose (as arranger) (1910/1988)
Pro Texana (1984)
Punchinello (1974)
Radetzky March (as arranger) (1848/1993)
Rahoon (1965)
The Ramparts of Courage (1995)
Rosalind in the Forest of Arden (2005)
Rushmore (1981)
Russian Christmas Music (1944)
Russian Christmas Music (arr. Curnow) (1944/1990)
A Sacred Suite
Salutations! (1995)
Samba. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
Seascape: A Dramatic Intermezzo (1962)
Second Century (1986)
Second Suite for Band (1980)
Second Symphony (1979)
Selections from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" (as editor; arr. Kostal) (1963/1964)
Serenade (1966)
Seventh Suite for Band (2002)
The Severn Suite (as arranger) (1973)
Siciliana Notturno (1977)
Silver Shadow (1998/1999)
Sine Nomine (as arranger) (1906/1976)
Sixth Suite for Band
Slavonic Folk Suite (1953/1987)
Slow Blues. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
Sonata. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
Song. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
Song of the High Cascades
Song of Threnos (1964)
A Springtime Celebration (1991)
The Strenuous Life (as arranger) (1902/1974)
Sumus Futuro (1999)
A Symphonic Prelude (1963)
Symphony for Brass and Percussion (1952/1967)
Symphony No. 1. See: Symphony for Brass and Percussion
Symphony No. 2. See: Second Symphony
Symphony No. 3 (1988)
- Variations on the Porazzi Theme of Wagner (1882/1988)
Symphony No. 4. See: Fourth Symphony
Symphony No. 5. See: Fifth Symphony
Tannhäuser Grand March (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1847/2005)
Tarantella (1996)
Testament of an American (1974)
Theme from "Lawrence of Arabia" (as arranger) (1963)
Third Suite for Band (1982)
Third Symphony. See: Symphony No. 3
Three Chorales (as arranger; ed. McAlister) (?/2013)
Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra (1984)
Three Symphonic Preludes (as arranger)
Thunder and Lightning (1999)
The Tsar's Farewell (as arranger) (2001)
Twelfth Night (2003)
Two Bagatelles (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1983/1997/2010)
Two Bagatelles (1983/1995)
Two Bagatelles for Concert Band (1983/1997)
Two Bagatelles for Four Trombones (1983)
Variations on the Porazzi Theme of Wagner. See: Symphony No. 3
Victory! (2005)
Vilia (as arranger) (1905/1990)
Vilabella March (as editor) (1970)
Viva Musica! (1984)
Wapawekka (1963)
With Trumpets And Drums (1992)

Resources

Battisti, Frank L. (2002). The Winds of Change. Galesville, Md.: Meredith Music Publications. pp. 29–30.
Miles, Richard, compiler and editor. (2002). Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 2. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 36–41.
Paul, Timothy A., and Phyllis A. Winds and Hymns: Resource Guide to Hymns, Chorales, and Spirituals in Selected Wind Band Literature Galesville, Md.: Meredith Music Publications, 2009, pp. 115-116.
Reed, A. (1997). Russian Christmas Music [score]. WB Music: [New York]
Reed, Alfred. (1979, October). “Russian Christmas Music.” The Instrumentalist 34, 36-41. Reprinted in Conductors Anthology 2nd. ed. Northfield, Ill: The Instrumentalist, 1993, pp. 115-120.
"RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC by Alfred Reed (USA, 1921-2005) in memoriam." WASBE. Web. (Featured as WASBE’s Composition of the Week, 20 December 2021). Accessed 11 January 2023
Waltman, David. "Alfred Reed." In A Composer's Insight, Volume 1, edited by Timothy Salzman, 119-130. Galesville, Md.: Meredith Music Publications, 2003.