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 ensemble's winter concert repertoire.
 
Suitable for intermediate to advanced ensembles, 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 trumpet passages give way to flowing arpeggios, bell-like glockenspiel accents, and cascading lines across the ensemble, 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 ensemble, 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=D3nrdzk4x7Q
 
*Please note that the audio in the video is from the brass band version. The musical content is virtually identical to this version.
 
Difficulty Level: Medium
 
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:
Trumpet Eb (optional)
1st Trumpet Bb (2 players)
2nd Trumpet Bb
Flugelhorn Bb
1st Horn F
2nd Horn F
Baritone Horn (or Trombone)
1st Trombone 
2nd Trombone 
Bass Trombone
Euphonium 
Tuba (2nd player optional)
Timpani
Percussion 1-2