All Titles • Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble (no chorus) • Sacred Holiday • Secular Holiday
Selections with Orchestra
Created with both performers and audience members in mind, these thoughtfully orchestrated arrangements delight your listeners with a lovely array of colors, textures, and moods while treating your players with solos in easily expressive and attractive ranges and passagework in good keys that falls comfortably into the hand. They come together in a snap with professional orchestra and will allow community and academic ensembles to shine!
“I’ve had the pleasure of playing these inventive arrangements for years and they are unfailingly gratifying.”
“The parts are idiomatic for each instrument and are a pleasure to play”
Auld Lang Syne, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A warm and especially moving arrangement of the Scottish ballad for New Year’s Eve, which combines the beautiful but lesser known second tune with the well known first tune. Perfect as a penultimate piece or encore.
Still, Still, Still Silent Night, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A gorgeous, serene arrangement that combines two much loved Austrian/German carols, first in alternation and then in counterpoint. Optional solo in the second verse of Silent Night for a soprano, treble, soli, or treble chorus. A perfect centerpiece for a carols service or concert.
Wassail, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A an irresistibly jolly setting of the Gloucester Wassail, with a vigorous (but playable!) fiddle-inspired accompaniment that builds throughout the arrangement and finally bursts into a spirited jig. Loads of fun for orchestra, chorus, and audience alike, this one is sure to have everyone’s toes tapping! Works well as a run-up to Auld Lang Syne.
O Holy Night, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A sweeping setting of Adolphe Adam’s beloved Cantique de Noël, in English translation, with a variety of accompaniments, from full orchestra to just piano or guitar. Full orchestra version includes optional introduction of “Silent Night” as English horn solo.
Deck the Hall, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A festive, jubilant setting that teases the ear with quotes of Joy to the World and Jingle Bells. Works well as an opener, and can run, attacca, into I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A majestic, Romantic setting of Longfellow’s “Christmas Day,” for SATB, baritone solo, and orchestra. Interludes between verses feature poignant solos in the orchestra, and the final verse builds to a Mahler-inspired climax. A magnificent vehicle for an operatic or musical theater baritone.
I Saw Three Ships, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A sparklingly, imaginatively orchestrated setting of this jolly, lilting carol. Builds to a joyous, uplifting close. Features each section of the choir and can include children's chorus. Two scorings available: full orchestra and small ensemble of harp, trumpets, English horn, tin whistle (or flute, piccolo, or violin), and cello.
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. Ryan James Brandau
The gentle, lulling traditional Polish carol, in English, both a cappella and in several orchestral and chamber orchestral scorings. Richly harmonized, the carol builds to a sumptuous apex before closing peacefully. Accompanied versions feature lovely woodwind solos.
Gesu Bambino, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A sparkling, shimmering setting of Pietro Yon’s classic, which combines a beautiful Siciliana with the refrain of Adeste Fideles. An excellent showcase for a soprano soloist. “O come let us adore him” sections can be sung by a second chorus or children’s chorus.
Jingle Bells, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A bright and ebullient setting of an indispensable holiday classic. Can be performed as an orchestral work, or with SATB, or as a singalong.
Finale - Joy to the World & We Wish You a Merry Christmas
A sparkling, rousing finale movement weaves together the second and third verses of Joy to the World with We Wish You a Merry Christmas, as a soprano or children's chorus descant, heralded by fanfares quoting the Hallelujah Chorus.
Greensleeves, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A beautifully orchestrated, sumptuous arrangement of the traditional English melody. Lovely passages for low strings, double reeds, and more. Works beautifully before Gesu Bambino.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A haunting and majestic arrangement combining two classical holiday carols in counterpoint. Works beautifully as a concert opener, and/or processional.
I Wonder as I Wander, arr. Ryan James Brandau
A captivating, atmospheric arrangement of John Jacob Niles’s enigmatic Appalachian melody, with beautiful instrumental solos.