Russian Christmas Music

Alfred Reed

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)
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)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
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
F Horn 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 (Tam-Tam)
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle
• Xylophone

Errata

In Parts:

• B-flat Clarinet I, m. 111: Replace 3/4 time signature with a 3/2 time signature
• Contrabass Clarinet, m. 18: Add a tenuto on the D on beat 2
• Contrabass Clrinet, m. 59: Remove the "mf" dynamic marking
• Contrabass Clarinet, m. 225: Change the tenuto on beat 4 to an accent
• Contrabass Clarinet, m. 215-216: These two bars should be a String Bass + 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
• 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 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 (also applies to Cb. Cl. cue if played)
• B-flat Cornet II, m. 15, beat 1 (oboe cue): change last 16th note (D) to a quarter note
• Baritone TC, m. 219: beat 4, the four 16th notes should be 32nd notes.
• Percussion II, Chimes and Bells, m. 188: The C-sharp printed on beat 1 should be a C-natural
• Percussion II, Chimes and Bells, m. 195: The C-natural printed on beat 4 should be a C-sharp

Program Notes

Originally written in November 1944, Russian Christmas Music 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.

- Program Notes from score

Commercial Discography

• 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

• 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
• 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
• Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.) Wind Symphony II (Jennifer Rubin, conductor) – 21 November 2019
• Boston University (Mass.) Wind Ensemble (David Martins, conductor) – 21 November 2019
• Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, O.) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Richard Edwards, conductor) – 21 November 2019
• Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 19 November 2019
• University of Central Florida (Orlando) Symphonic Band (Tremon Kizer, conductor) – 7 November 2019
• Mount St. Mary's University (Emmitsburg, Md.) Wind Ensemble (Mark Carlson, conductor) – 26 October 2019
• Marshall University (Huntington, W.V.) Wind Symphony Orchestra (Adam Dalton, conductor) – 3 October 2019

Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music

• Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
• 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)
  • Armenian Dances, Part Two (1978)
• Autumn Leaves (as arranger) (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)
• Canto e Camdombe
• Carmen (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1875/2000)
• A Celebration Fanfare (1989)
• Ceremony of Flourishes (1964)
• Chanson Triste (1989)
• Characteristic Dances from "The Nutcracker Suite" (as editor with McAlister; tr. Rogan) (1892/2001)
• A Christmas Suite (1974)
• Chorale Prelude in E minor (1953/1966)
• A Christmas Celebration (1987)
• A Christmas Intrada (1980)
• Clear Track Polka (2000)
• Come, Sweet Death (as arranger) (1736/1976)
• Come, Sweet Death (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
• Concertino for Marimba and Winds (1993)
• Concerto for Trumpet and Winds (1995/1997)
  • Sonata
  • Slow Blues and Jazz Waltz
  • Song and 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 Concert Band (1998)
• Double Wind Quintet (1975)
• El Camino Real (1985)
• El Camino Real (arr. Longfield) (1985/2013)
• The Enchanted Island (1980)
• The Entertainer (as arranger) (1902/1974)
• Evolutions (1993)
• 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 Festive Overture (1963)
• Fifth Suite for Band (1995)
• Fifth Symphony (1995)
• Finlandia (as editor) (1900/2004)
• First Suite for Band (1975)
• Five Dances for Five Clarinets and Band
• Forget Me Not, O Lord (as arranger) (c. 1736/1985)
• Fourth Suite for Band (1994)
• Fourth Symphony (1992)
• Funiculi Funicula (as arranger) (1880/1994)
• Giligia (2000)
• Golden Eagle March. See: March Golden Eagle
• The Golden Year (1997)
• Greensleeves (1993/2011)
• Gypsy Dance (as arranger) (1872/1997)
• Huldigungsmarsch (as editor) (1864/2002)
• Highlights from "Exodus" (as arranger) (1960/1962)
• Highlights from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" (as arranger) (1963/1965)
• The Hounds of Spring (1981)
• Hymn Variants (1992)
• I Left my Heart in San Francisco (as transcriber; ed. Rogers) (1954/1963)
• Imperatrix (1972)
• In Dulci Jubilo (as arranger) (1970)
• Intrada Drammatica (1968/1992)
• 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)
• Light Cavalry Overture (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1866/2003)
• A Little Concert Suite (1984)
• Mancini! (as arranger) (1965)
• March Golden Eagle (1989/1995)
• March Grandioso (as arranger) (1901/1969)
• Mary Poppins (as arranger) (1964/2006)
• Millennium III (1999)
• Mr. Music (1990)
• Music for Hamlet (1973/2018)
• The Music-Makers (1968)
• The Music Man: Highlights (as arranger) (1957/1959)
• My Heart Is Filled With Longing (as arranger) (c. 1710/1986)
• Nimrod (as arranger) (1899/1965)
• Nocturne (as arranger) (1886/1953/1975)
• A Northern Legend (1972)
• Ode for Trumpet (1956)
• Othello (1977)
• Our Father Who Art in Heaven (as arranger) (1710/1988)
• 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 (as arranger)
• Prelude IV (as arranger) (1722/1983)
• Prelude and Capriccio (1978)
• Presentation of the Silver Rose (as arranger) (1910/1988)
• Pro Texana (1984)
• Punchinello (1974)
• Radetzky March (as arranger) (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)
• Seascape: A Dramatic Intermezzo (1962)
• Second Century (1986)
• Second Suite for Band (1980)
• Second Symphony (1979)
• Serenade (1966)
• Seventh Suite for Band (2002)
• The Severn Suite (as arranger) (1973)
• Siciliana Notturno (1977)
• Silver Shadow
• Sine Nomine (as arranger) (1906/1976)
• Sixth Suite for Band
• Slavonic Folk Suite (1953)
• Song of Threnos (1964)
• A Springtime Celebration (1991)
• The Strenuous Life (as arranger) (1902/1974)
• Sumus Futuro (1999)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Viva Musica! (1984)
• 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.
• Waltman, David. "Alfred Reed." In A Composer's Insight, Volume 1, edited by Timothy Salzman, 119-130. Galesville, Md.: Meredith Music Publications, 2003.