Proclamation of Christmas, The

Stephen Bulla's overture The Proclamation of Christmas is an extended work that features a number of popular Christmas tunes, including Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and The First Nowell. Its dramatic opening and imaginative structure make it a rewarding piece to rehearse and perform, and it certainly fulfills all the requirements of a Christmas show opener!

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 6:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Alto Saxophone 1 & 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
Horn in F 1 & 2
Horn in F 3 & 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Tuba

Percussion 1 (Side Drum, Bass Drum)
Percussion 2 (Cymbals)

Program Notes
Originally written as the 'show opener' for one of The Salvation Army's spectacular annual Christmas Carol concerts in London, and premiered by The International Staff Band, Stephen Bulla's overture The Proclamation of Christmas is an extended work that features a number of popular Christmas tunes, including Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and The First Nowell. There are also two slightly less well-known tunes that are linked to the carols – While Shepherds Watched and Angels from the Realms of Glory – and the piece concludes with a final flourish from O Come, All Ye Faithful.

Its dramatic opening and imaginative structure make it a rewarding piece to rehearse and perform, and it certainly fulfills all the requirements of a Christmas show opener! So, we firmly believe that this oevrture will be a popular addition to Christmas repertoire for concert band in the same way as it was in its original version for brass band.