10 x 10 - Holiday Repertoire

Anna’s 10 x 10 - Composers you should know series: Holiday Repertoire!

Last month, a colleague asked me to offer a few suggestions for holiday compositions (specifically for the December holidays) by women and/or BIPOC composers. To my surprise, the task was trickier than I had thought it would be! Though I did find some great pieces, I realized that there were very few orchestral compositions in this genre. So this is definitely a niche market that needs to be addressed.

As many of us look towards a challenging concert season, I hope we all encourage and provide opportunities for these composers to produce new works for holiday celebrations. What a delight it would be to have an abundance of new uplifting compositions to add to our holiday programs!

Until then, it is my pleasure to introduce (or possibly reacquaint) you to a few terrific compositions to listen to and add to your holiday programming list.

I hope you enjoy!

Entries will follow the following format:

1. Composer Name (links to additional info about the composer)

Ensemble

• Titles hyperlink to more information and recordings

  • Length

  • Orchestration

  • Link to rental information via publisher or composer

HERE WE GO!

1. Quinn Mason

Orchestra

• Christmas Eve Festivities (2015/16)

  • 04’30

  • 2(P).2.2.2 - 2.2.3.1 - timp (+4), cel, - strings

  • https://masonianmusic.wixsite.com/home/contact-me

2. Augusta Read Thomas

Orchestra

• Of Paradise and Light (2010)

  • 04'30

  • Strings (also ver. For cello ensemble)

  • https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/44835/Of-Paradise-and-Light--Augusta-Read-Thomas/

3. Vítězslava Kaprálová

Orchestra

• Christmas Prelude for Orchestra (1939)

  • 03’00

  • 2.2.0.0 - 1.1.0.0 hp, pf – strings

  • https://www.zinfonia.com/

4. Margaret Bonds

Choir and Orchestra

• Ballad of the Brown King Christmas Cantata

  • 30’00

  • 2[1.2/pic] 2 2 2 - 2 2 2 0 - 1perc - hp - cel - strings, Soloists, SATB Chorus

  • https://www.zinfonia.com/

5. Sally Beamish

Orchestra

• The Day Dawn (1999)

  • 15’00

  • Strings

  • https://www.edition-peters.com/composer/beamish-sally/w00306

Choir

• In the Stillness (2007)

  • 02’00

  • SATB a cappella

  • http://www.gonzagamusic.co.uk/shop/?p=935

6. Adolphus Hailstork

Chorus

• A Carol for All Children

  • 04’00

  • SATB (div) choir

  • https://www.adolphushailstork.com/

Orchestra

• Fanfare on Amazing Grace (2003)

  • 03’30

  • Brass ensemble (click here for audio), 0.0.0.0 - 1.2.1.1 - timp, organ OR

  • Full Orchestra – 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.3.1 – timp – strings

  • https://www.zinfonia.com/

Orchestra w/ Treble Choir, Narrator, Visuals (for a Children’s concert)

• The Gift of the Magi (based on the short story by O. Henry)

  • 31'00

  • 2.2.1.0 - 0.0.0.0 - harp - pno/cel - perc - strings (other versions available)

  • https://www.presser.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=the+gift+of+magi

7. Barbara Harbach

Orchestra

• Winter Wonderland Around the World

  • 03’30

  • Inquiry out to composer

  • http://www.barbaraharbach.com/videos.html

8. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (arr. Sydney Baines)

Orchestra

• Christmas Overture

  • 06’00

  • 2.1.2.2 -2.2.3.0 – timp + 2, strings

  • https://www.zinfonia.com/

9. Nancy Galbraith

Orchestra

• Celebration of Color and Light (1988)

  • 16’00

  • 3(p).2.3(bcl).3 - 4.3.3.1 - timp + 3, hp, cel – strings

  • https://www.subitomusic.com/

• Danza de los duendes (1991)

  • 09'30

  • 3.2.2.2 – 4.3.3.1 - timp, 4 perc, hp, pf - strings OR for Wind Ensemble

  • https://www.subitomusic.com/

10. Stacy Garrop

Chorus or Strings

• Lo Yisa Goy

  • 05'00

  • Full Chorus (2021) OR Saxophone Ensemble (2007)

  • https://www.garrop.com/Instrumental

  • String Version: https://www.presser.com/116-42036-lo+yisa+goy.html

For more information on these compositions, please go to: Anna’s Composer Database