Sample played by Burning River Brass

10071 – Fantasy de Noël
3 Traditional French Carols
Il est né le divin Enfant - Noël Nouvelet - Patapan

arranged by Roger Harvey

Difficulty: Medium

Price: £27.50

Programme note:
These three popular Fench Christmas chansons have been put together in a medley. The opening mood is gentle and meditative but bit by bit the pulse quickens and tthe set ends in a frantic style, reminiscent of the Southern French dance, the Farandole.

Performance note:
The 1st trumpet part is best on an E flat (or piccolo trumpet). 4th trumpet requires a flugel. The percussion is optional but desirable. A lowish drum is required for the first section, a tambourine for the second and a smaller drum for the 3rd. If only a side drum is available, use it without snares in the first section and with in the 3rd.

-Il est né: Play very gently, as if from the distance, to befin with; allow a natural crescendo to occur as more instruments join in but pace it well. Keep the style jovial. Make a gradual accelerando into the new tempo.

-Noel Nouvelet: This section can be a bit more rustic, some firm rhythmic stresses and short afterbeats will help. As the canon builds up make sure that the voices are balanced, falling away slightly on the long notes to avoid the texture becoming too cluttered. Again, aim to tailor the change of tempo into the next section.

-Patapan: Keep the repeated accompanimint figure light and staccato, allowing the melody to dance without overdue effort. Aim to gradually increase the tempo as suggested to end in a excited manner but do not go so fast that you lose control.