If you like Bugler’s Holiday, then this is the arrangement for you! I wanted to create an arrangement of Deck the Halls for trumpet trio in the style of Bugler’s Holiday BUT I wanted to make sure it was playable by the ‘regular’ folks. All 3 trumpet parts have been carefully written to be as playable as possible. There is certainly double tonguing in this but it’s written where you don’t change notes while doing it (will make sense for trumpet players). I have written in rests for the trio so the arrangement serves as a call and response with the trio and the orchestra. This ensures that chops won’t get too tired and that there’s plenty of excitement.

This arrangement ends on a high C for the lead trumpet BUT unlike Bugler’s Holiday, I give you a couple bars rest near the end to make sure your chops are fresh. AND the last lick is a unison lick down low so the last thing the audience/congregation hears is a great unison double tonguing lick low.

Why did I write it that way? Simple-In high school I played Bugler’s Holiday by myself as a solo at my church (Olive Baptist-Pensacola, FL). I took the song too slow. There’s NO REST at the end with the bugle call at the end before the high C. There just needs to be a few bars somewhere near the end to get the horn off the face. Sad to say that I tried to play the high C, missed it. Tried again. Missed it. Tried again. Missed it. Then just played a low C and ended. Then I tried to sneak away off the stage and considered moving to Yemen.

So, I give the lead trumpet a high C, I give him some rest before the end AND the last lick is unison down an octave so if for some reason you pull a ‘Jeff Anderson’, the last thing the audience/congregation hears is that great double tonguing low lick.

Double click below to hear the recording of this arrangement:

[audio:http://www.anderkampmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Deck-the-Halls-Trumpet-Trio.mp3]

Instrumentation:

Trumpet Trio (Trumpet 1-3), Flute  1-2, Oboe, Clarinet 1 & 2, Bassoon, Horn 1-2, Trombone 1-4(Tuba), Violin 1-2, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Bells, Chimes, Timpani, Harp, Rhythm, written out Piano, written out Electric Bass, String Synth 1 (Violins & Viola), String Synth 2 (Viola & Cello), String Synth 3 (Cello & Ac. Bass), String Synth 4 (String Reduction), Bass Clarinet (sub for Bassoon), Alto Sax 1-2 (sub for Horn 1-2), Tenor Sax 1-2 (sub for Trombone 1-2), Bari Sax (sub for Trombone 4/Tuba) and a concert pitch AND transposed score

You can purchase the demonstration recording here to listen to (only $1.49).

You can purchase the accompaniment track for your trumpet players here.