Review

Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:

Arranged by Alan Matheson


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was first heard in the MGM musical film, Meet Me In St. Louis. The movie premiered in 1944 and the tune was sung by Judy Garland. It was recorded again by Frank Sinatra in 1957. Canadian trumpeter, Alan Matheson, has arranged a lovely setting of this Christmas standard for brass quintet. His voicings are quite good, the ranges for the instruments are reasonable and the dynamics and phrase markings are meticulous and make perfect sense. He mostly uses traditional straight eighth-notes but throws in a short swing section in the first half of the piece. It’s just enough to be tasty without being contrived. The key modulates from C to D-flat about two thirds of the way into the piece thus rounding out the second verse. Quintet members will appreciate the thoughtful voice leading and the low brass will appreciate the absence of trombone/tuba unison octaves. The arrangement will present no technical challenges to a high school brass quintet and there is ample opportunity to explore the use of rubato and phrase shaping. This is a fine, short setting of a Christmas classic and should be included in the book of any brass quintet that plays frequently around the Christmas holiday.

-David Johansen
Southeastern Louisiana University