 Unique Christmas arrangements
for big band and choir! 
In 2008, Richard Rudloph, director of music
for Convenant Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, VA commissioned and premiered four sacred
jazz Christmas arrangements for Big Band and combined gospel and traditional choirs. The
community response was to fill this large church with two standing-room-only shows. The
church followed up by commissioning five more arrangements that premiered in January 2010
rather than December 2009 due to a big snowstorm which shut the town and highways. Despite
this unusual timing for a Christmas concert the house was packed again.
Bradley at the podium rehearsing his big band and choir
holiday arrangements
"Just when one thinks one is somewhat
jaded about the traditions of Christmas, the Spirit catches your attention...the music of
life may be the same but God grabs your soul when we hear life to a different beat and the
Light of Christ is born again..." - Rev. Nancy Early (responding to premier
concert)
2008 |
| Hark, The
Angels We Have Heard - A funky medley of Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
and Angels We Have Heard on High. Features: an improvised trumpet solo.
Length: 5:53. Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes, rhythm section and
optional guitar with SATB choir. |
Big Band
and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| We Three Merry Gentleman - A medley of We Three
Kings and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen combining classical, jazz waltz and
swing feels. Features: improvised solos for trumpet, alto and tenor
saxes. Length: 5:53. Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes, rhythm
section and optional guitar with SATB choir. |
Big Band
and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| Midnight Manger - A medley of It Came Upon a
Midnight Clear and Away in a Manger in a heavy gospel waltz style.
Features: piano and trombone solos. Length: 5:22. Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4
trombones, 5 saxes, rhythm section and optional guitar with SATB choir. |
Big Band and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| What Child Is This -A hushed classical choir intro
evolves into a bright Latin groove reminiscent of the Tijuana Brass. Features: tenor sax,
trumpet and drum set improvised solos. Length: 6:57 Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4
trombones, 5 saxes, rhythm section and optional hand percussion with SATB choir. |
Big Band
and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
I enjoy your arrangements....they are fresh and clever
ways of presenting old, well known songs. - Sam (drummer for world premier.)
Thank you for a fabulous afternoon for music. You truly
are a blessing to the rest of us who can only admire your talent. - Skip (choir
member)
|
2009 |
| Fum Bells - A medley of Carol of the Bells and Fum,
Fum, Fum with a jazz waltz style that evolves into blues, reggae and even klezmer feels!
Features solos for alto and tenor saxes and distinctive written featured bass line for
bari sax. Length: 6:39 Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes with 2 flute
doubles, rhythm section with SATB choir. |
Big Band and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| Go Tell A Wonderful Child - Combines two Christmas
spirituals, Oh, What A Wonderful Child and Go Tell It On The Mountain in a toe tapping
groove that morphs into a military style march followed by a heavy gospel shuffle. Lots of
key changes keep adding more and more energy with each chorus. Features a written solo for
tenor voice and a written or ad lib solo for piano. Length: 5:45 Instrumentation: 4
trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes with 2 flute doubles, rhythm section with SATB choir. |
Big Band
and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| Good Wassail - A blending of Good Christian Men
Rejoice and Here We Come a Wassailing begins with a quiet choir feature that moves into an
Afro Pop groove with an optional steel drum part (can also be performed on keyboard). A
medium swing section featuring a tenor sax solo follows before the big double time ending.
Length: 6:33 Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes with 2 flute doubles,
rhythm section, optional steel drum and SATB choir. |
Big Band and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| O Holy Night - Variety is the name of the game with
this one. The intro establishes "the stars are brightly shining" with a lengthy
reference to Gustav Holst's The Planets that moves into jazz-rock, cool jazz and
gospel grooves. A hard swinging 12/8 shuffle take it on through the surprise ending that
again references The Planets. Length: 7:09 Features solos for trumpet and
trombone. Length: 7:16. Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes with 2 flute
doubles, rhythm section with SATB choir. |
Big Band
and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
| Tu-re-lu-re-Lullay - This quieter medley of Bye Bye
Lully Lullay and Patapan begins contemplatively with a dark jazz waltz that moves into
minor blues changes. Various brass mutes, flutes and toms add a nice change of timbre and
reference the lyrics “Willie, bring your little drum; Robin, bring your fife and
come.” Includes open solos over minor blues changes. Length: 6:38
Instrumentation: 4 trpts., 4 trombones, 5 saxes with 2 flute doubles, rhythm section with
SATB choir. |
Big Band and Choir $30
8 1/2 x 11 score and parts, no cover |
Video |
|
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