This is a “Build a Band” arrangement based on the Deck the Halls for Brass Quintet that I recently released.

Build a Band? When I was young, my father had this one set of carol books that had the 4 parts of the carol transposed into all the keys of all the different band instruments (a seperate book for each class of instrument). Essentially you could use any instruments you wanted, as long as you had one on each of the four parts. I’ve seen a website that does something similar as well. If there was a drawback, it was that the arrangements were/are really super simple and they only had one verse (which, of course you could repeat).

This arrangement of Deck the Halls has 5 parts and three verses, each with its own variations. Here is a ZIP file with the Score and Parts, as well as a computer realization of the full ensemble:

• Deck_the_Hall__Build_a_Band.zip
• Deck_the_Hall_Build_a_Band.mp3

The instrumentation includes:

• Flute 1 : Part 1
• Flute 2 : Part 2
• Oboe : Part 3
• Bassoon : Part 5
• Clarinet 1 : Part 1
• Clarinet 2 : Part 2
• Clarinet 3 : Part 4
• Bass Clarinet : Part 5
• Alto Sax : Part 3
• Tenor Sax : Part 4
• Piano : Part 1-5
• Trumpet 1 : Part 1
• Trumpet 2 : Part 2
• Horn in F : Part 3
• Trombone : Part 4
• Tuba : Part 5
• Vocal Line with Guitar Tabs

Ideas for String Players:

• Violin: Play the flute or oboe parts.
• Viola: Sorry! You’ll have to pick a part and transfer it to your own clef.
• Cello: The bassoon and trombone parts would work well for you.
• Bass: The tuba part read up an octave (sounding as written). Alternate arco and pizzicato on the verses.

You can Help! Please let me know if you have a recording you’d like to send (any configuration of the 5 parts); I’ll post it here. Also, if you have any ideas for improving this system, I’d love to hear about it.