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
Dynamic Solos for Timpani
Dynamic Solos for Mallets
Dynamic Solos for Snare Drum
Cricket
Animal Cracker Rag

Percussion Ensemble

A Little Malletmusik
Angels in the Moonlight
Animals
Bongito
Candlesticks - Percussion Octet
Christmas Day
Dreams From the Dark Forest
Füm Drum
Jokers Wild
La Vida de la Noche (Mallet Ensemble)
La Vida de la Noche (Percussion Ensemble)
Little Lullabies
Nanigo Navidad - Percussion (11)
Odd Duck - Percussion Quartet
Opa! - Percussion 10
Pelican - Percussion (9)
Pistoleros - Percussion (13)
Pop Drop
Rockbox - Percussion Nonet
Santa's Strut
Tale of the Dragon
The Three Buccaneers
Top Tank
When You Hear the Drum
Winterland - Percussion Octet

Percussion Ensemble with Other Instrument

An American Dream - Percussion Ensemble & Trumpet