Anna’s 10 x 10 - Composer 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, this task was trickier to do than I had thought. Though I did find some great pieces, there were very few “classic” orchestral compositions in this genre. This is definitely a niche area that needs to be addressed.

As many of us look towards a challenging concert season, let’s encourage and provide opportunities for composers of diverse backgrounds to produce new works for our community’s holiday celebrations. What a delight it would be to have an abundance of new uplifting compositions to add to our holiday programs as we come away from this pandemic.

Until then, it is my pleasure to introduce or possibly reacquaint you to ten composers to 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)

Type of ensemble

• Titles hyperlink to more information and recordings

• Length

• Orchestration

• Link to rental information via publisher or composer

1.     Quinn Mason

• Orchestra

  •    Christmas Eve Festivities (2015-16)

    • 04’30

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

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

2.     Augusta Read Thomas

• Orchestra

  • Of Paradise and Light (2010)

    • 04'30

    • Strings (also version 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

• String 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, 0.0.0.0 - 1.2.1.1 - timp, organ

      • https://www.zinfonia.com/

    • 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

    • 03’45

    • instrumentation - TBA

      • publisher - TBA

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

      • https://www.subitomusic.com/

    • Wind Ensemble

      • https://www.subitomusic.com/

10.  Stacy Garrop

• Chorus (2021)

  • Lo Yisa Goy

    • 05'00

    • Chorus (2021)

      • Contact composer - https://www.garrop.com/Instrumental/saxophone/

    • Saxophone  ensemble (2007)

      • Contact composer - https://www.garrop.com/Instrumental/saxophone/

    • Strings

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

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