Three Wise Guys

Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux

Subtitle: (after J.H. Hopkins, Jr.'s We Three Kings and English traditional Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)

General Info

Year: 2011
Duration: c. 3:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $95.00   |   Score Only (print) - $18.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Percussion I-II, including:

• Hi-Hat (closed)
• Kick Bass Drum
• Snare Drum
• Tambourine
• Tenor Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

We Three Kings and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen are featured in this swing arrangement which is scored for full band. The three kings are represented by three ever-wise-cracking sections in the band: the trombones, saxes and trumpets. After the intro and presentation of the “A” section of We Three Kings, the “B” (chorus) section steps away from swing style and shifts into 1970s Motown with the baritone saxophone leading the charge. The marimba, tenor saxophone and clarinet take solos. Then the low woodwinds bring in the melody of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen in straight quarter notes with the clarinets doing a swing Bach-style accompaniment over the top. The piece ends with a sassy recap of the intro.

- Program Note by composer

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio CD: University of North Texas Symphonic Band (Dennis Fisher, conductor) - 2012

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Central Iowa Wind Ensemble (Des Moines) (Christian Carichner, conductor) - 18 December 2022
• Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) - 22 December 2021
• Plainville (Conn.) Wind Ensemble (Ken Bagley, conductor) - December 21, 2021
• Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble (Hampton, Va.) (William Garlette, conductor) - 14 December 2019
• University of North Texas (Denton) Symphonic Band (Dennis W. Fisher, conductor) – 29 November 2018
• Tennessee Valley Winds (Murphreesboro) (Erich Zimmerman, conductor) – 19 December 2017

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
• I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
• Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
• One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
• Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

• Across the Isle of Skye
• Af-free-kah! (2013)
• All Good Things (2003)
• All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
• Always (2019)
• Amaranthine (2008)
• Appalachian Portrait (2017)
• Arcus IX
• The Ash Grove (2019)
• Autumn Rose (2017)
• Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
• Before the Sun (2013)
• Beyond Measure (2023)
• Beyond the Gates (2022)
• The Bench by the Sea (2017)
• The Blue Marble (2022)
• The Bonsai Tree (2010)
• Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
• Boston Liberties (2003)
• Burning the Wickerman (2020)
• Carnaval! (2013)
• Celestial Seas (2014)
• Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
• Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
• Christmas Toons (2012)
• Christmas with Mozart (2007)
• Circus Franticus (2001)
• Córdoba (2013)
• Crown of Thorns (1998)
• Culloden (2000)
  • Culloden I and II
  • Culloden III
• Dragon Sky (2015)
• Dream Dancer (2005)
• The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
• Empire (2006)
• An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
• Fantasy in French (2012)
• Fields of Gold (2019)
• The First Noel (as arranger)
• Fort McHenry Suite (2000)
• Freedom Rising (2017)
• Glenbury Grove (2009)
• Glorious Light (2019)
• Godspeed (2023)
• The Grace in Being (2013)
• The Greatest Generation (2002)
• Hands of Mercy (2001)
• HardDrive (2010)
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
• Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
• The Hearthstone (2016)
• Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
• Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
• I Got Rhythm for Christmas (2012)
• Il Burlone (2000)
• I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
• I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/)
• Imbizo (2007)
• Impressions (2013)
• In My Father's Eyes (2017)
• In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/2018)
• Incantations (2019)
• Integrity Fanfare and March
• Italian Rhapsody (2005)
• Jerusalem (as arranger)
• Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
• Journey Through Orion (2006)
• Just Flyin'! (2015)
• K2 (2012)
• Kalanu (2002)
• Khan (2008)
• La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
• Legacy (2011)
• Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
• The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
• The Little Sparrow
• Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
• Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
• March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
• Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
• Medalist Fanfare (2013)
• Mile High (2023)
• Moonshine. See: Shine
• Movin' on Down the Line (2009)
• My Soul to Keep (2019)
• Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
• Mythic (2021)
• The Nature of the Beast (2001)
• Nearer, My God, To Thee (as arranger) (2010)
• Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
• No Finer Calling (2006)
• No Man's Land (2017)
• Nothing That Is (2000)
• Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
• O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
• Of Blood and Stone (2015)
• Of Silence and Sparrows (2022)
• One Life Beautiful (2010)
• One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
• Opa! (2018)
• Ouachita (1987)
• Our Cast Aways (2018)
• Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• Outlander (2010)
• Overture in Five Flat (2010)
• Paprikash (2014)
• Peter Patapan (2011)
• Poseidon (2010)
• Primality 2006)
• Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
• Radiant Shadows (2016)
• Rain Softly on Me (2022)
• The Red Baron Drummer
• Riften Wed (2013)
• River Shannon (2020)
• Shadow Falls (2013)
• Shine (2017)
• Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
• Space Symphony (1986/1991)
• The Speed of Heat (2010)
• Stealing Home (2016)
• A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
• Strathcona Suite (2012)
• Sun Catcher (2022)
• Swashbuckler (2010)
• Symphony No. 1. See: Culloden
• Symphony No. 2. See: A Symphony of Fables
• Symphony No. 3. See: No Finer Calling
• Symphony No. 4. See: Bookmarks from Japan
• Symphony No. 5 (2017)
• Symphony No. 6. see: The Blue Marble
• A Symphony of Fables (2006)
• Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
• Three Fanfares (2003)
• Three Wise Guys (2011)
• Tiger Tail March (2000)
• A Time to Dance (2006)
• To Walk with Wings (2000)
• Trillium
• The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
• The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
• Under the Influence (2022)
• Under the Willow (2015)
• A Very Merry Heart and Soul
• Vigils Keep (2005)
• Vortex (2015)
• Wagon Trail (2003)
• West Wind Overture (2012)
• What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
• What Goes in the Night (2000)
• When Country Comes to Town (2008)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
• Wild West Overture
• Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
• Without You
• Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
• Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)

Resources

• Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
• Perusal score