Salvation Army Music Books -- Anyone know anything?

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:31 pm

A horn-playing friend has told me how he and some friends of his used to play Salvation Army "kettle concerts" -- playing Christmas carols in front of a store that has a Salvation Army Kettle. He said the donations skyrocketed while they were there playing (I believe he said they went, on average, from around $100 / hour to almost $1500 / hour). He and I would like to get a group together to do that this Christmas. According to my friend, the books they used were Salvation Army books. Does anyone have any specific knowledge of how to work with Salvation Army to get the music and schedule such performances? I haven't even Googled this yet, and I've no doubt I could get a phone number, and talk to a guy, who could transfer me to a lady, who knows the email of someone who once mentioned a colleague who used a band -- but I wanted to check here first to see if anyone else does this, and really knows the drill and can help me skip all that runaround.

In the event that we AREN'T able to find the right person at Salvation Army, we may just show up at a couple of kettles and play (with the store's permission, of course), or play at some nursing homes or soup kitchens. Of course, if we do that we'll need our own music. Can anyone suggest a fairly simple and straightforward book of Christmas carols? Instrumentation is probably 1 or 2 Trumpets, Trombone and/or Baritone, one or two Horns, and Tuba (we may double all the parts except tuba with HS players from my son's band, more to give them the experience than anything). I'm not too sure of how good the trumpet player is -- I've never heard him play -- so we don't want to venture anything too...complicated. Just simple & pretty, mostly in F, Bb or Eb (or relative minors).

Let me also suggest that if you've not done anything like this, you should give it a try. You can transform someone's Christmas by taking your gift of music -- no matter how great or small -- and giving it to others; and in the process you will gain much more than your audiences will.
_______________________________________
Joe Baker, whose favorite annual engagement back in Texas was a brass ensemble Christmas concert at a shelter that helped homeless folks get off the streets.

ufoneum · Post by **ufoneum** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:48 pm

I am not exactly sure if this is what you are talking about, but these are the Salvationists' Christmas Folio Books. Ask a brass-bander, they should have played out of them at some time in their lives.

http://www.worldofbrass.com/products_sm.php?section=8

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:15 pm

We've used the red-and-green little books for Xmas caroling; someone said they were SA books but I don't have a clue. We got them at a local music store; they come in various forms for differently keyed instruments...i.e., you can get Part 1 in Bb or C, etc, depending on your instrumentation.

And I agree, this is a great thing to do at Christmas. We have a list of people we go serenade, and we ask our respective churches who is not up to going out, who would appreciate a five or ten-minute doorstep visit. Of course here it is not a zillion degrees below zero around Christmas, so playing outside doesn't demand mittens or Kelly mpcs. People appreciate this more than you could imagine. I mean, a Brass Band visiting just them personally!!

If you just go to your local SA facility, they will know where the location of the nearest SA band is, and how to contact them. Then you can find out first hand how to get the books.

MA

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 6:09 pm

Dillon's has Salvation Army music for various combinations, listed under "Caroler's Favorites" at:

https://www.dillonmusic.com/dmp/christm ... music.html

I think that's what you are looking for.

Allen Walker

jlbreyer · Post by **jlbreyer** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 6:25 pm

The last time we got the Caroler's Favorites, a couple of years ago, we paid $5 a book (I think) and they had 70 tunes. I spoke to an SA band person earlier this year looking for a guitar book, which they didn't have, BUT... he said they are working on a new book with 140 tunes and will have guitar tabs in the vocal book IIRC. Now, don't hold me to this, as I'm recalling a brief conversation some months back, but I would definitely check with the Army directly and see if the new books are available.
jlb

greatk82 · Post by **greatk82** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:43 pm

I purchased a set of Caroler's Favorites two years ago from Dillon's. My unit played them in Iraq, bringing Christmas Joy to the center of the Sunni Triangle. I would definitely recommend purchasing a set for you. They are simple, yet delightful arrangements. As a matter of fact, if you are looking for books to volunteer your time for the Salvation Army, please PM me your hand address. My unit has purchased their own copy, and I would be more than willing to ship you my original set. Please let me know.

TJ

Jack Denniston · Post by **Jack Denniston** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:10 pm

We've been enjoying doing this in the Durham, NC area 3 times a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We use the Caroler's Favorites. They are fairly easy but interesting arrangements for 4 parts, with a 5th "color" part optional. Each part is availble in several keys, bass clef and treble. We've had a good time anda good sound with anywhere from 2 to 20 players, and the red kettle donations do definitely increase when the music starts.

tubiker · Post by **tubiker** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 1:56 pm

Beware.............

The "New" Christmas Praise (the red books) do indeed have loads of parts, you can get C parts, Bb parts F parts etc etc and they also have plenty of "secular" Christmas melodies aimed straight at the American market

but

the arrangements arn't half as good as the "Old " Christmas Praise (the green books) - to my certain knowledge a large number of Brass Bands in the U.K. on having bought the new books have ended up photocopying the "old" sets to give them a longer life rather than use the new sets.

and

The Southern Territory of the U.S.A. Salvation Army (based in Atlanta, Georgia) have published sets of individual arrangements for Brass (but with parts for everybody - so you can mix and match) - they are absolutly brilliant - using class arrangers (Jim Curnow, Barry Gott etc etc) - but I think they have gone out of print

When I get back to work I will put up the details.

Andrew Murray
Wymondham Area Schools Brass Band - try saying that lot after a curry.........

WorldofBrass.com · Post by **WorldofBrass.com** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:43 pm

Andrew, I'll PM you about your first two points.

MichaelDenney · Post by **MichaelDenney** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:14 pm

From what I learned last Christmas season, the Salvation Army can use the help just manning kettles, much less providing music. They even have to hire people at times to man them when short on staff. I simply did not know that non-Salvationists helped out. Folks from our church helped out for a number of evenings and Saturdays last season and had a good time.

I hope to man a kettle with my tuba-euph quartet some during the coming Christmas season. We'll get to test how many sets our chops can last through...

A trombonist has occasionally manned a kettle at local mall in the past. I always went through his entrance.

Tom B. · Post by **Tom B.** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:31 pm

These aren't the Salvation Army books, but we use a set of three little books of familiar Christmas tunes arranged by Sammy Nestico called "Christmas, The Joy & Spirit". They're for 7 piece brass with optional bells (2 trumpets, 1 horn, 2 trombones, 1 euphonium, and 1 tuba). Less flexibility in parts than some of the other arrangements mentioned, but they're pretty lush sounding. Available at Robert King, JW Pepper, and a bunch of other places.

Tom

Mark Preece · Post by **Mark Preece** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:14 pm

I am a Salvationist, and I have been travelling to Portland OR. for the last 4 years and playing for all of December with a great group from Canada, with members Bob Venebles, Andrew Poirier, and Craig Robertson among others. We mainly use the Caroller's Favorites - the best Carol Books currently available. In my opinion, the New Christmas Praise (Red Book) sounds too "old school", or better yet... boring. I bought a Bass Eb book when they were first available, and I must say that I have only used it twice... my first and last time!

Other music we use is the PJBE "Christmas Crackers" and "Carolling Brass 1 & 2" from the Just Brass series. These are also great as they offer a more interesting arrangement of the carols themselves, rather than the carol played straight out. The score also comes with Brass Band parts, as well as Concert instrumentation (Bass clef, F horn etc.)

The Green Book is a collection of Christmas Marches and hymn settings. It is written for a full Brass Band, and although our group used it while in Portland, our players had 2, sometimes 3 books in front of him just to cover all the parts! I will never forget Craig and I playing Christmas Joy with only Cornet and Tuba! It was entertaining and funny too!

For starting to help out the Salvation Army, you need to contact the local church in your area, and talk to the pastor there. Also take a look in the phone book and look for a Divisional Office, and pay them a visit. These people will surely set you up and set you on the right path.

Thank you for your help with our ministry! We are always appreciative of people offering their free time to help others in the Cristmas season!

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:32 pm

Wow! I've gotten an enormous response to this, both here on the forum and in private emails! I think I've replied to all the private emails (I've gotten more private replies than public ones), but if I've failed to reply to anyone, rest assured that every comment I've received was helpful and very much appreciated, as are all the tips and suggestions posted on the forum. There are a surprising number of people already doing these performances, but prevented by humility from mentioning it. My admiration and appreciation goes out to all of you.

A very kind military bandsman named TJ Kurczewski (thank goodness for cut & paste, heh heh), who has done this sort of playing in the past but will be serving our country in Iraq this Christmas, has asked me to accept his set of the SA books and put them to good use, and I've accepted. Loving Christmas (and Christmas music) as I do, I'll also be purchasing at least two other sets of books that have been recommended. Frankly, my mouth is watering at the prospect of the Sammy Nestico arranged brass choir Christmas book -- nobody was cooler than the Count, and I always liked Sammy's stuff the best of all.

I welcome further comments and suggestions, but mostly just want to thank everyone for what's been put forward so far!
_____________________________________
Joe Baker, who needs a little Christmas, right this very minute...

Philip Jensen · Post by **Philip Jensen** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:15 pm

Good to see you've got a source lined up. If you want to buy your own, I bought a complete set for brass quintet (optional quartet) just last year from Sheet Music Service in Portland OR. I also got some extra parts to use for family get togethers that include sax players. Some of the books were not immediately available and shipped a couple weeks after the others. I have a vague recollection that the contact person there said there was a limited supply, but wasn't sure if that was just a seasonal thing.

It's that time of year, my local TubaChristmas venue just contacted me to set our date and time.

Here's a link to the SMS listings: Carolers Favorites