Advent and Christmas are a time of special sounds. For wind orchestras, the publisher HaFaBra Music offers the catalogue Joy Christmas Music is a diverse collection that combines traditional melodies with modern arrangements and exciting musical influences. From swinging blues mixes to classic Christmas carols – this selection enriches every concert at Christmastime. Here is an overview of some of the highlights of the compositions:
1st Silent Night in Africa – Dominique Morest
A Christmas classic, reinterpreted: In Silent Night in Africa Dominique Morest brings the popular Christmas carol into an African-inspired world of sound. With rhythmic accents and exotic instrumentation, this work becomes a true listening experience and gives the traditional carol a new, joyful dynamic.
2. He’s a Chubby Little Fellow – Gene Autry, arranged by Toshio Sakamoto
An upbeat piece with plenty of humour: In this work, originally by Gene Autry, the arrangement by Toshio Sakamoto describes the cheerful and light-footed nature of Santa Claus. The melody, combined with playful orchestral sounds, makes this piece the ideal choice for a family-friendly Christmas concert.
3rd Santa’s Grotto – Derek Bourgeois
In this part of the suite, Bourgeois takes up a well-known motif from “Die Moldau” by Bedrich Smetana and integrates it into a Christmas setting. The “Moldau”, one of Smetana’s most famous works, musically depicts the course of the river Moldau in Bohemia and stands for the national feeling of the Czechs. Bourgeois’“Saynta’s Grotto” is a tonal example of musical irony and a loving homage to Smetana. At the same time, it invites the audience to experience the connection between culture and the season playfully.
4th Little Pony’s Christmas Song – Pascal Devroye
Pascal Devroye has created a tender, almost childishly cheerful piece of music that captures the joy and innocence of Christmas from the perspective of a little pony. Perfect for younger listeners, the piece offers a cheerful and easy-to-understand melody with a touch of magic.
5. A la nanita nana – Rose Ramon Gomis, arranged by Roland Smeets
In A la nanita nana we experience an interpretation of a traditional Spanish lullaby that shows a contemplative, almost meditative side to Christmas. The arrangement by Roland Smeets brings the Spanish sounds perfectly into a festive wind orchestra setting and adds an authentic cultural note to the concert program.
6th Noizy Nite (2011 Blues Mix) – Hardy Mertens
Hardy Mertens provides a modern, unusual touch with his blues mix Noizy Nite. Here the spirit of Christmas meets blues rhythms, swinging bass lines and a jazzy atmosphere. A piece that makes the concert hall shake in a humorous way and is particularly popular with an audience that is open to creative new discoveries.
7th Mambo Sapin – Dominique Morest
Another work by Dominique Morest that brings Latin American rhythms to the Christmas season. Mambo Sapin gives the classic Christmas carol “Oh Christmas Tree” a fiery temperament, and the trumpets and percussion give the piece its unmistakable swing. Ideal for enriching Christmas concerts with southern warmth.
8th (Not so) Silent Night – Peter Sciaino
Peter Sciainos Not so Silent Night is a humorous reinterpretation of the world-famous Christmas classic. With dynamic rhythms and upbeat brass sections, Sciaino brings a lot of verve to the traditional song and ensures that this “silent night” remains anything but silent – a highlight for any concert.
9. further highlights from Suzanne Welters
Suzanne Welters contributes several titles that are ideal for a modern Christmas concert:
- Bolero de NoelA Christmas bolero with a mixture of classical and pop music.
- Christmas on the RockA rocking homage to the Christmas season that brings new energy to the repertoire.
- Christmas mix and Merry MixmasTwo dynamic medleys that combine well-known Christmas songs in an innovative way and give the concert a varied touch.
Conclusion
With the Joy Christmas Music-catalog from HaFaBra Music provides conductors and wind orchestras with a great palette of music ranging from traditional to modern, from cheerful to contemplative. Each piece brings its own character and allows orchestras to put together a Christmas program that offers something for every taste and every audience. This collection is an enrichment for all those who appreciate musical variety and want to celebrate the Christmas season in style.
