Sing We Now of Christmas – [RBM – 113] Orchestral
This arrangement was commissioned by the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1999 and is designed for use as a Christmas carol sing-along – with or without the participation of choral forces. The work begins with a short fanfare, leads directly into the carol sequence, and concludes with a brief choral-orchestral flourish.
Structurally, the carols are arranged in this fashion:
- O, Come, All Ye Faithful
- Away In A Manger
- The First Noël
- Joy to the World
- Silent Night
- Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
The length of the rendition may be adjusted by altering the observation of repeated passages. (Each carol contains two verses, with first- and second-endings.) There are also provisions for excising Joy To the World from the running order, entirely.
In addition to optional choral music for this arrangement [RBM-113], there also exists a “lead sheet” (see below) which may be downloaded and duplicated as desired – either for the use of unison choral singing or in audience situations where the use of choral parts is not practical.
The orchestration is available in two versions:
| Picc. / Fl. 3 | 4 Hn. | Pno. / Cel. |
| 2 Fl. | 3 Tpt. (C) | |
| 2 Ob. | 3 Trbn. | Vln. 1 |
| Eng. Hn. | Tuba | Vln. 2 |
| 2 Cl. (B-flat) | Timp. | Vla. |
| Bs. Cl. | 3 Perc. | Cello |
| 2 Bsn. | Harp | Bass |
REDUCED INSTRUMENTATION
| Picc. / Fl. 2 | 2 Tpt. (B-flat) | Vln. 1 |
| Ob. / Eng. Hn. | 2 Trbn. | Vln. 2 |
| 2 Cl. (B-flat) | Tuba (opt.) | Vla. |
| Bsn. | 2 Perc. | ‘Cello |
| 2 Hn. | Harp | Bass |
The above materials may be secured for hire from the rental agent, ECS Publishing.
( dur: 4:30 – 8:00″, depending on the observation of repeated passages)
View: Sing We Now of Christmas – DOWNLOADABLE Lead Sheet
View: Sing We Now of Christmas – Full Orchestration – first page
View: Sing We Now of Christmas – Reduced Orchestration – first page