The merging of the traditional English carol 'The First Nowell' with Johann Pachelbel's 'Canon in D', provides a captivating arrangement designed to bring rich texture and emotional depth to your band's winter concert repertoire.
Combination
Suitable for intermediate to advanced bands, it opens with a gently rolling, scalic ostinato in the euphonium and lower brass, establishing the harmonic ground bass of Pachelbel's masterpiece. Over this foundation, expressive solo lines in the flugel and horns weave the familiar melody of 'The First Nowell' into the texture.
The scoring gradually builds with intricate muted cornet passages that give way to flowing arpeggios, bell-like glockenspiel accents, and cascading lines across the band, driving a gradual crescendo into an ensemble statement of the carol theme and dramatic climax before resolving into a warm, lingering final chord.
The piece is also available for symphonic brass choir, transcribed by Andrew Wainwright.
Rolling score
To view a rolling score video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr9hMLhAvRM
Difficulty Level: 3rd Section +
Duration: 3.30 minutes
PDFs and Sheet Music
PDFs: (Brass Band Version): https://www.brookwrightmusic.com/product-page/a-christmas-canon-brass-band
(Brass Choir Version): https://www.brookwrightmusic.com/product-page/a-christmas-canon-brass-choir
Sheet music available at:
www.brassband.co.uk (UK)
https://satradecentral.org (USA)
