Holiday Repertoire by Canadian Composers - Orchestras Canada/Orchestres Canada

As part of our commitment to promoting Canadian content, we have added a Canadian Holiday Repertoire Library to our website and are inviting you to submit works appropriate for the holiday period, written by Canadian composers. We hope that this collection will grow and make it as easy as possible for music directors and artistic decision-makers to program Canadian content on their holiday concerts. Thank you to the Canadian Music Centre for consulting during the early development of this initiative, and for their ongoing support.

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Duration:

Ensemble:

Suitability:

Composer	Piece	Duration	Ensemble	For the Holidays	Detailed Instrumentation	Notes
Beckett, Ronald	Symphony No. 2: A Christmas Symphony	10-15 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.2.0 timp+2 hp str	The work is designed for a general audience and is based on well known carols. It is a symphony in two movements of equal duration. The movements can be performed by themselves. The Brantford Symphony Orchestra own a complete set of parts.
Bisson, Samuel	Holiday for Horns	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2222 4231 ds strings	Holiday for Horns is an original work for 4 solo horns and orchestra. It is made up of original melodies, but the accompaniment is made almost entirely of pre-existing Holiday songs.

Contains quotes from the following Holiday songs:
Adeste Fideles
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
Away in a Manger
Baby it’s cold outside
Candy Cane Lane
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Coventry Carol
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Do You Hear What I Hear
D'où viens tu bergère
Feliz Navidad
First Nowell
Frosty the Snowman
Go tell it on the Mountain
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Here Comes Santa Claus
Here we come a-Wassailing
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I Saw Three Ships
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Il est né le divin enfant
I'll be Home for Christmas
It came upon a midnight clear
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
It's the most wonderful time
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells
Joy to the World
Les anges dans nos campagnes
Let it Snow
Little Donkey
Little Drummer boy
Maoz Tzur
Mary	did you know?
Minuit Chrétiens
Neural Story Singing Christmas
Nutcracker: Chocolate
Nutcracker: March
O Chanukah
Petit papa Noël
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus is coming to Town
Silent Night
Silver Bells
Skater's Waltz
Sleigh Ride
Someday at Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas
The Who Song (Welcome Christmas)
Un flambeau Jeannette Isabelle
Up on the Rooftop
Venez divin Messie
We need a little Christmas
We Three Kings
What child is this
White Christmas
Winter wonderland
...as well as Raiders March and the 20th Century Fox theme"
Cable, Howard	Appalachian Carol	1-5 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2(EH).2.2 0.0.0.0 strings
Cable, Howard	Carol Of The Drum	1-5 minutes		Specifically for the holidays
Cable, Howard	Carol Overture (Ding Dong Merrily)	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.1.2.2 4.3.3.2 timp+2perc strings	Ding Dong Merrily, I Saw Three Ships, Love And Joy
Cable, Howard	Christmas At The Line Camp		Strings and Choir	Specifically for the holidays	strings	Music by Howard Cable, Words by Charles M Russell
Cable, Howard	Christmas Favourites	5-10 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 0.0.0.0 strings	We Need A Little Christmas, It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas, Here Comes Santa Claus, Up On The Rooftop, Merry Christmas Polka
Cable, Howard	Christmas With Mary Lou And Anna		Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings	A fun piece with two sopranos - one singing classics, the other cutting in with Xmas pop tunes. Includes: O Holy Night, Jingle Bell Rock, Jesu Bambino, Winter Wonderland, Messiah#14, Messiah#16, Jingle Bells, Patapan, Oh Christmas Tree, The Christmas Song, Joy To The World. Commissioned by Mary Lou Fallis
Cable, Howard	Coventry Carol	1-5 minutes	Wind Ensemble	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 0.0.0.0 no strings
Cable, Howard	Deux Chansons de Noel		Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 0.0.0.0 strings
Cable, Howard	Five Carol Sing Along	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings	songs: Adeste Fidelis, First Noel, Hark The Herald Angels, Joy To The World, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
Cable, Howard	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen		Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2(picc)222 4331 T+2 STR
Cable, Howard	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	1-5 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 0.0.0.0 strings
Cable, Howard	Mary's Boy Child (Carribean Carol)	1-5 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	0.0.2.2 0.0.0.0 strings
Cable, Howard	O Holy Night	1-5 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	0.0.0.0 4.0.3.1 strings
Cable, Howard	Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2(picc).2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings
Cable, Howard	Twelve Brassy Gifts	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 2.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings	To the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas + original words
Cable, Howard	Twelve Brassy Gifts	5-10 minutes	Orchestra and Choir	Specifically for the holidays		To the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas
Cable, Howard	Yahellwydd (Trad. Welsh)			Can be used for the holidays
Coe, Henrique	Defend Us in Battle	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.1.2.2 4.2.2.1 timp+2perc harp strings	Please request the score by email. The youtube video is a chamber orchestra version, but the original is for full orchestra.
Coe, Henrique	Defend Us in Buttle (2016)	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.1.2.2 4.2.2.1 timp+2perc harp strings	Based on the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Coe, Henrique	Defend Us in Buttle (2016)	5-10 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	1.1.1.1 1.1.1.1 2perc harp strings	Based on the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Coe, Henrique	Symphony “The Saviour” (2014)	More than 20 minutes	Orchestra and Choir	Specifically for the holidays	2.2..2.2 4.3.2.1 timp+2perc SATB choir strings	I‐ The Creation, The Garden of Eden, and The Fall II‐ The Incarnation III‐ The Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension
Coe, Henrique	Symphonic Ave Maris Stella (2017)	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.1.2.2 4.2.2.1 timp+2perc harp strings	Based on the Gregorian chant “Ave Maris Stella”
Coe, Henrique	Symphonic Ave Maris Stella (2017)	5-10 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	1.1.1.1 1.1.1.1 2perc harp strings	Based on the Gregorian chant “Ave Maris Stella”
Coe, Henrique	Peregrinus in Mundo (2012)	10-15 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	3.3.3.AltoSax.3 4.3.4.1 organ celesta timp+3 perc harp strings	The piece is divided into seven parts: Oratio (“Prayer”); Invenians Viam (“Finding the Way”); Ad Missionem (“At the Mission”); Meditatio (“Meditation”); Caritas (“Charity”); and Contemplatio (“Contemplation”). The piece starts and finishes with three bell rings, in reference to the Most Holy Trinity.
Coe, Henrique	Symphonic Victimae Paschali Laudes (2019)	10-15 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	3.3.3.3 4.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings	Based on the Gregorian chant Victimae Paschali Laudes
Coe, Henrique	The Assumption (2016)	5-10 minutes	Chamber Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	strings	The piece refers to the extraordinary event in which God has taken to heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul.
Degazio, Bruno	Reflections on the Huron Carol, from Ontario Sketches	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2+picc.2+eh.2+bcl.2+contra 4.3.3.1 timp.3perc pno.hp strings	The Huron carol is not clearly stated but inspired an atmospheric treatment of Western and indigenous music, and includes Canadian bird calls. A very interesting and accessible piece.
Lau, Kevin	Jingle Bells	1-5 minutes	Orchestra and Choir, Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+3perc hp strings	Versions for orchestra with or without a choir or children’s choir.
Lau, Kevin	It Came Upon the Midnight Clear	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+3perc hp strings
Lau, Kevin	For Home	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp+2perc strings
Magowan, Catherine & Dénommé-Welch, Spy	Rouge Winter	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2(picc).2(eh).2.2 4.2.3.1 timp+perc strings
Meyer, Chris	Kings of the Orient	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2+picc.1+eh.2+bcl.2 4.3.3.1 timp.3perc. hp strings	Possible audience / choir sing-along
Meyer, Chris	Bring a Torch Isabella	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2+picc.2.2+bcl.2 4.3.3.1 timp+3perc hp strings	Possible audience / choir sing-along
Meyer, Chris	O Come, O Come Emmanuel	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2+picc.2.2.2+bcl. / 4.3.3.1 timp+3perc hp strings	Possible audience / choir sing-along
Meyer, Chris, music & Pietersen, Barry, story	Sinaa the Polar Bear Cub	10-15 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	narrator 2.2.2.2 4.2.3.1 timp+3perc pno strings	Family-friendly story about animals in the Canadian arctic
Palmer, John	Christmas Past	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	3(2.pic).2.2.2 4.2.3.1 timp+3perc strings	Suitable for Community Orchestra Includes: Carol of the Bells, Es ist eine Ros' Entsprungen, Coventry Carol, O Tannenbaum, Here We Come a-Wassailing. Performance time approx. 6'15"
Richardson-Schulte, Abigail	The Hockey Sweater	15-20 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2(2.doubles picc.)2.2.2 4.2.2.1 timp.2perc cel/org (or keyboard) strings + narrator	Based on the classic Canadian story by Roch Carrier who is available as narrator.
Richardson-Schulte, Abigail	Making Light	15-20 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2222 4231 Timp+1perc hp strings, two narrators (one adult, one child)	Narration, by Alexis Diamond, tells how different cultures from around the world celebrate the holidays.
Rival, Robert	Lullaby	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.2.0.0 perc hp.cel strings
Rival, Robert	"Now Winter Nights Enlarge" from Delights and Discords	1-5 minutes	Wind Ensemble and Choir	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2. 4.2.3.1 timp 2perc hp.pno.org(optional) NO strings	NO strings!
Royer, Ronald	Fantasia on Canadian Carols	5-10 minutes	Multiple Instrumentations	Specifically for the holidays	2(2=picc).2(2=Eh).2.2 4.2.3.1 timp.3perc hp strings (perc. 3 & harp optional)	Based on the Huron Carol, Il est né, le divin Enfant, The Cherry Tree Carol, and La Guignolée. Version for orchestra with or without a choir or children’s choir.
Royer, Ronald	Fantasia on Canadian Carols	5-10 minutes	Multiple Instrumentations	Specifically for the holidays	2(2=picc).2(2=Eh).2.2 4.2.1.0 timp.1perc hp strings (hn. 3 & 4, trbn.timp. & harp optional)	Based on the Huron Carol, Il est né, le divin Enfant, The Cherry Tree Carol, and La Guignolée. Versions for chamber orchestra with or without a choir or children’s choir.
Royer, Ronald	Fantasia on Canadian Carols	5-10 minutes	Multiple Instrumentations	Specifically for the holidays	trpt perc.hp pno strings (trpt.perc.hp. & pn. optional)	Based on the Huron Carol, Il est né, le divin Enfant, The Cherry Tree Carol, and La Guignolée. Versions for string ensemble with optional other parts with a choir or children’s choir.
Royer, Ronald	I Saw Three Ships	1-5 minutes	Multiple Instrumentations	Specifically for the holidays	1+picc.2.2.2 4.2.3.1 timp.3perc hp strings (hp optional)	Based on I Saw Three Ships and the Celtic folksong The Frost is all over
Sandoval, Alex	Snowflakes	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2 2.2.2.1 timp.2perc strings
Sandoval, Alex	Journey Through the Ice Cavern	1-5 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2 2.2.2.1 pno timp.3perc strings
Singaratnam, Suresh	A Canadian Christmas	1-5 minutes	Orchestra and Choir	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 2.2.2.1 timp, glk choir strings (minimum 3.3.3.3.1)	For choir (or children's choir) and orchestra (plus other versions). French version recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9R1OGyuiM
Heller, Charles	Hanukkah, Hanukkah: Suite of Hanukkah songs for Orchestra	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2. 4.2.3.1. timp+2perc, harp, strings	Commissioned by Orchestra Toronto, premier 2017, performed again 2019
Nickel, Christopher Tyler	Christmas Morning	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	3333 4331 timp+3perc hp cel/pno strings	2011 Premiere cycle included the Atlanta Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony. A beautiful sound portrait of falling snow, the children awaking and running downstairs to open their presents, a brass band playing carols in the distance, the family dinner, and a fanfare-like finale to the spirit of the day
Nickel, Christopher Tyler	Following Yonder Star	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	3333 4331 timp+3perc hp pno strings	2012 Premiere by the Atlanta Symphony.
Following the great success of Chris Nickel's ""Christmas Morning"" introduced in 2011	we now offer this moving musical portrait of the journey to Bethlehem by the 3 Magi: A starry night	appearance of the ""star"" and the journey across the desert	arrival in Bethlehem	finding the stable	the adoration of the Baby
Nickel, Christopher Tyler	Christmas Dreams	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	3333 4331 timp+3perc cel/pno strings	Premiered by the Sinfonia Orchestra of the North Shore under the baton of Clyde Mitchell.
Straughan, Brent	The Who Carol	Check Form!	Orchestra and Choir	Can be used for the holidays	SATB only	A Canadian Christmas carol with Gospel routes - intermediate choir.
Straughan, Brent	Song of Flanders	10-15 minutes	Orchestra and Choir	Can be used for the holidays	Beethoven sized Orc plus SATB - soloists within	A beautiful, powerful Remembrance Day setting of John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields".
Suitable for occasions of remembrance	and of state.
Intermediate choir and orchestra"
Opatril, Leslie	Whisky Jack	Check Form!	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	1+picc.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/timp/hpe/strings	Whisky Jack is inspired by the character of the grey jay and its environment, a bird also known by the common name “whisky jack.” Grey jays are found in coniferous forests across Canada and do not migrate; they are tough, intelligent, assertive… and pretty darn cute. About the size of a robin, the grey jay is most closely related to the magpie. These birds will eat out of a person’s hand, and, if this person is not careful, perhaps fly off with some picnic goodies as well. At least they will attempt this thievery; sometimes they are not strong enough to get far with the desired lunch item (a whole peanut-butter and jam sandwich for example.) The grey jay is also referred to as “Canada jay,” “lumberjack,” and - quite accurately - “camp robber.” After an online poll done by Canadian Geographic magazine, the whisky jack was unofficially selected as the national bird of Canada.
Fekri, Arvin	Reflections	5-10 minutes	Symphony Orchestra	Can be used for the holidays	2.2.2.2. 4.2.2.1 timp.+1 perc strings	Traditionally the holidays mean something specific to Western, christian nations; however, the world is rapidly changing. What does an immigrant, who does not adhere to any specific religions, feel about the holidays? What is his point of view? That is what my music represents about the holidays.
WALKER, BRANDON	Santa Is On The Way	Check Form!	Symphony Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	2.2.2.2 4.2.3.1 timp+4perc, celesta, strings	Santa Is On The Way is a fun and delightful two-minute piece for orchestra (and sleigh bells, of course!). It is a perfect composition to fill or conclude any Holiday Concert programming.
wraggett, rd	Waltz of the Waves	Check Form!	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	1.1.1.1. 1. no perc . Strings, winds can be doubled	This Waltz can have the wind parts a2 or a3 if played by a larger orchestra. It's a very 'listener' friendly piece which could be used at a ball or dance. The mp3 is a MIDI rendition of the score and gives a rough idea of the piece.
Cotoman, Diana	C'est Noël	Check Form!	Chamber Orchestra	Specifically for the holidays	1.0.0.0 1.0.0.0 glock strings	Musical postcard of the snowy Christmas atmosphere.

The flute may be replaced by a recorder and the French Horn by a flugelhorn or by a trumpet. The glockenspiel part may also be played on a marimba or a xylophone."
Baggins, Bilbo	Sample value				Sample value	Sample value
		Duration	Ensemble	For the Holidays