John McAllister
Composer, Educator
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Free Christmas Music

Lots of great Christmas music was made in 2021.
​See y'all next year for more tunes and more options in 2022.

Holiday Music with (very) Flexible Instrumentation

Behind the Music
In my home town of Spartanburg, we kick off the holiday season with an event call "Dickens of a Christmas." People dress up as though they're in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  There is food, exhibits, and most importantly, music. I've been able to get my band program wired into the festival by providing small chamber groups throughout downtown. To facilitate my ever-evolving program, I've arranged a ton of Christmas Tunes with very flexible instrumentation. Here's how it works:
How it Works
The music is arranged around the model of a brass quintet. I've expanded to add woodwinds covering all of the various parts. For example, you can use an alto sax playing Part III instead of a horn. You could achieve the tunes with a clarinet ensemble, a saxophone ensemble, a mix-matched woodwind ensemble.... the possiblities are endless! Enjoy!
 ** Virtual Performance Notice **
For those that would like to perform this in an online/recorded manner. GO AHEAD! I am totally fine with you using these arrangements for any type of virtual performance.  Just put a link to direct other musicians that might be interested in using the arrangements as well.
​ MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

2021 Arrangement Updates
(percussion added, alto clef viola part, cleaned up scores)
Jingle bells
We wish you a merry cmas
Bell carol
up on the housetop
Good King Wenceslas
Away Manger
hark the herald
First Noel
12 Days of Christmas
Silent ngiht
​O christmas tree
joy to the world
​deck the halls
piano reductions
(not perfect, but functional...mostly

Strings Friendly Keys!
Jingle Bells 2021
​D Major
We Wish You A Merry Cmas
​in C
up on the housetop
​(in c & D)
Away manger
​in g
12 days Christmas
​in g
hark the herald
​in d
first noel in D, C
Good King Wenceslas 
​G Major
Silent night
​in c
o christmas tree
in G
Joy to the world - C
​Deck the Halls - D
* Old versions below *
Silent night / o christmas tree
Good king wenceslas
AWAY IN A MANGER
The first noel
12 days of christmas
12 Days - All Days
Bell Carol / wish you merry / deck the halls
Joy to the world / hark the herald
jingle bells

And for those of you that need to make edits or upload to Smartmusic, below are the XML files. 
XML FILES!!

the music
Free Resources
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Instruments
Cinematic Series
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Complete Catalog of Works
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About
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  • Start Here
    • Blog
  • Music
    • Concert Band - Marches
    • Concert Band - VE
    • Concert Band - E
    • Concert Band - ME
    • Concert Band - M
    • Adaptable Duets
    • Adaptable Quartets
    • Adaptable Quintets >
      • Adaptable Quintets - Classical
      • Adaptable Quintets - Pops
      • Adaptable Quintets - Folk & Traditional
      • Adaptable Quintets - Patriotic
      • Adaptable Quintets - Originals
    • Etudes and Exercises
    • Marching Band >
      • Marching Band - Stands Tunes
      • Marching Band - Community
    • Jazz
    • Christmas/Holiday
    • Strings
    • Complete Catalog
  • Instruments
    • Flute >
      • Flute Choir Christmas
    • Oboe
    • Bassoon
    • Clarinet
    • Saxophone
    • Trumpet
    • Horn
    • Trombone
    • Euphonium
    • Tuba
    • Percussion
  • Free Resources
    • Let's Read Music
    • Ensemble Theory
    • Warm-ups >
      • Foundation Warm-Ups
      • Chorales
    • Warm-Ups Symphony
    • Fundamentals
    • Scales and Technique
    • Rhythm
    • Arrangements
    • Sight-Reading
    • Breathing
    • Jazz Center
    • Games
    • Strings!
    • Recruitment Materials
    • Posters
    • Free Christmas
  • Cinematic Series
    • Complete Warm-Ups Sets
    • Long Tones
    • Flexibility
    • Articulation
    • Scales
    • Page of Patterns
    • Counting
    • Play Alongs
    • Arbans
    • Pop Rhythms
    • Classical Improv
    • LoFi
    • Music Humor
  • My Story