Review

Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi
Christmas Time Is Here from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ :

Arranged by Lisa Albrecht


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2012
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Written for the 1965 television animated special A Charlie Brown Christmas by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi, this sweetly sentimental song has become a staple of the American Christmas holidays and is widely known and performed. In this arrangement for trombone quartet by noted New York trombonist Lisa Albrecht, a slow introduction leads into a faster jazz waltz. Most of the rhythmic and melodic interest lies in the upper two parts. Trombone 1 is a bit ‘rangy,’ reaching upwards to c2, but only in passing, not in sustained rhythm. The lower two parts provide a steady, harmonic accompaniment. Some brief glissando and bell tone effects provide additional interest in this attractive, well-scored arrangement of a Christmas favorite.

-James Roberts
Jacksonville State University