Full Orchestra Music:

Silent Night - For Full Orchestra or String Orchestra and Band

Available for Purchase Here

Silent Night Cover Art.png

Silent Night for Full Orchestra or String Orchestra and Band is a setting of the traditional carol Silent Night scored to be played by a Full Orchestra, or by a String Ensemble a Wind Band by using the optional saxophone and euphonium parts.  It was written so if a band and orchestra wanted to play together on a concert it could accommodate that instrumentation.

 

The piece seems like a traditional setting however the melody is often scored with harmonies alternating between Bb major and g minor.  Because of this, the piece vacillates between emotions of triumph and melancholy, praise and sadness.

 

Form

  Measures 1-16 is an introduction with the chord progression arpeggiated in clarinet with fragments of the melody being presented.  A pizzicato string and clarinet transition leads into the next section.

Measures 17-39 is Silent Night scored in both Bb major and g minor.  The melody in relatively unchanged but the harmony will alternate between the two keys.  Every section of the carol is orchestrated differently, so the timbre of the ensemble evolves as it progresses through each phrase.

Measures 40-43 returns the transitional material with a melodic bridge in low strings, reeds and brass.

Measures 44-66 the traditional carol returns, still alternating between major and minor with much more ornamentation in melody and countermelody and rhythm. 

 

Skills

Meters: 3/4, 6/8

Keys: Bb Major, g minor (first 5 notes)

Techniques:

    • Alternating Major and minor keys
    • Pizzicato
    • Hocket
    • Hemiola
    • Either melody, countermelody solo or soli sections are included in all parts.

 

Instrumentation

Flute 1

Flute 2

Oboe

Clarinet 1

Clarinet 2

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

Alto Saxophone (Opt.)

Tenor Saxophone (Opt.)

Baritone Saxophone (Opt.)

Trumpet 1

Trumpet 2

French Horn

Trombone 1

Trombone 2

Euphonium (opt.)

Tuba

Timpani

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Suspended Cymbals

Crash Cymbals

Wind Chimes

Chimes

Orchestral Bells

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass