Christmas Day

Brian Slawson

General Info

Year of Published: 2016
Publisher: Tapspace
Difficulty: Elementary
Duration: 00:02:30
Cost: $32.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba 1
Player 5: Marimba 2
Player 6: Chimes
Player 7: Timpani & Triangle
Player 8-9: Sleigh Bells & Suspended Cymbal & Temple Blocks & Tambourine

Description

Falling to sleep on the night before Christmas is no easy task for a child. While anxiously dreaming of things to come, the clock ticks and tocks. Such is the story of Brian Slawson's Christmas Day. Following a festive statement from the solo chimes, holiday cheer spills forth in musical colors only percussion instruments can provide. The clock (temple blocks) starts its countdown to the big day amidst a light and carefree melody. Rhythms are generally basic and repetitive. So besides providing holiday cheer, Christmas Day is a great vehicle in which to teach younger players the basics of handling 12/8 time. This piece gives entry-level players to prepare a rousing piece in limited time. You can't wrap that kind of gift with a bow!

Review

If you are looking for a fun piece to add to a holiday concert or just a cheerful and playful work, check out “Christmas Day” by Brian Slawson. It is well suited for the advanced middle school ensemble or high school group, providing many rhythmic challenges as the piece dances between a feeling of 12/8 and 6/4.

Slawson begins the piece with bells tolling in the distance, and the remainder of the ensemble joins in jubilation, setting the tone for the entire work. A vibraphone solo occurs after a repeat of the primary ideas and requires a mature player, as the solo uses quick arpeggios and some large leaps. All mallet parts are playable with two mallets, but require the performers to understand the different subdivisions within a bar of 12/8. The timpani part is rhythmically active, but requires no tuning in the middle of the piece if three drums are available.

“Christmas Day” presents some rhythmic challenges for a younger ensemble, but will provide a very rewarding experience for those willing to undertake the piece. This would be a perfect concert closer or opener for December concerts.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Solos

Two-Beat Tango
Cricket
Animal Cracker Rag

Chamber Percussion Ensemble

Candlesticks - 8 Players
Füm Drum - 9 Players
Odd Duck - 4 Players
Song of All Seasons - 8 Players
Pelican - 9 Players
Rockbox - 9 Players
Tangito - 9 Players
Top Tank - 3 Players
Winterland - 8 Players

Large Percussion Ensemble

Angels in the Moonlight
Animals
Bongito - 13 Players
Book Bash - 10 Players
Christmas Day
Dreams From the Dark Forest - 13 Players
Jokers Wild - 13 Players
La Vida de la Noche (Percussion Ensemble) - 15 Players
Little Lullabies
Nanigo Navidad - 11 Players
Opa! - 10 Players
Pistoleros - 13 Players
Roundup - 10 Players
Santa's Strut - 11 Players
Strum - 10 Players
Tale of the Dragon - 12 Players
Tank Time - 10 Players
The Three Buccaneers
When You Hear the Drum - 10 Players

Mallet Ensemble

A Little Malletmusik
El Paso Waltz
La Vida de la Noche (Mallet Ensemble)

Percussion Ensemble with Other Instrument

An American Dream - Percussion Ensemble & Trumpet

Indeterminate Percussion Ensemble

Pop Drop - 3 or more Players
Yes & No - 5 or 6 Players