Seamlessly merging the traditional English carol The First Nowell with Johann Pachelbel’s beloved Canon in D, A Christmas Canon is a captivating arrangement designed to bring rich texture and emotional depth to your band's winter concert repertoire.
Suitable for intermediate to advanced bands, the piece opens Adagio sostenuto with a gently rolling, scalic ostinato in the euphonium and lower brass, establishing the unmistakable harmonic ground bass of Pachelbel's masterpiece. Over this foundation, expressive solo lines in the flugel and horns gracefully weave the familiar melody of The First Nowell into the texture.
As the arrangement unfolds, the scoring gradually builds density and counterpoint. Intricate muted cornet passages give way to flowing arpeggios, bell-like glockenspiel accents, and cascading lines across the band, driving a gradual crescendo into a rich, full-ensemble statement of the carol theme.
The work reaches its dramatic climax at an expanded Allargando section, where the full band, supported by percussion, delivers a majestic, fortissimo declaration of the melody before resolving into a warm, lingering final chord.
To view a rolling score video of the Amsterdam Staff Band performing this piece please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ezhdJvgjfE
Difficulty Level: 3rd Section +
Duration: 3.30 minutes
This PDF download includes the full score and parts.
Sheet music available at www.brassband.co.uk (UK) or https://satradecentral.org (USA)
Instrumentation:
Soprano Cornet Eb
Solo Cornet Bb
1st Cornet Bb
2nd Cornet Bb
Flugel Horn Bb
Solo Horn Eb
1st Horn Eb
2nd Horn Eb
1st Baritone Bb
2nd Baritone Bb
1st Trombone Bb
2nd Trombone Bb
Bass Trombone
Euphonium Bb
Bass Eb
Bass Bb
Timpani
Percussion 1-2