Christmas at the Pops

"CHRISTMAS at the POPS" is a perfect selection on any Christmas holiday concert. The four-and-a-half minute score for Full Orchestra is playable by any good college, community, or professional orchestra. It is a FUN selection!.

 Included in the instrumental score are the optional words scored for SATB Choir – and optional English Handbell Choir. A sheet of Lyrics is also included - for those who would like to sing along, e.g. soloist or children's choir! (Children's Choir may also be used singing only the Soprano and Alto parts.)

 This jubilant music is entirely British in style. Christmas music, carols and hymns, began to be sung and played during early 19th Century England. The score begins with the beloved bell toll of Big Ben (incorporated as clock chimes the world over), which then becomes a recurring counter-theme throughout. The "bell" sounds in the orchestra here are those of the Glockenspiel. However, as noted, a full score for Handbells may be added.

Next, a sleigh ride tune is introduced. This melody is based on the bell ringing changes of the church with descending scales that vary, depending upon the "round calls" given to the assembled ringers, i.e. "changing up, changing down, or swapping." A great may Christmas melodies imitate these scales, e.g. Handel's "Joy to the World" is a "change ring" melody. "The Christmas Song," "Jingle Bells," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "Deck the Halls," and numerous other Yuletide "carols" use these scale change patterns.

 The "maestoso" second strain answer is a hymn-like, somewhat patriotic, song (ala "Five Golden Rings" - style of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance"). Much of the recurring orchestration is also reminiscent of Tchaikowsky (Nutcracker Suite) and, of course, Leroy Anderson in our time, e.g. with the sleigh bells accompanying throughout.

 There are no direct quotations of any Christmas song; however, the score does capture the essence of such tunes, e.g. the rhythms, motives, and colors, while conveying  a music quite festive, lively, joyful, heroic, and even "mystical" at times.