Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas is an American traditional carol by an anonymous composer. St. Nicholas is associated with a priest serving in Asia Minor who was consecrated as Archbishop in Myra, then was made a patron Saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. Legend has it that he was generous and kind to children and practiced gift giving in secrecy at night. This charming, gentle tune blends well with Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” and performers are urged not to take a beginning tempo too fast that would rush the coming eighth notes. This arrangement for saxophone quartet (SATBar), rather than favoring a soprano solo with accompaniment, strives to include all the players in the music making, particularly by distributing melodic material. In addition, all dynamics and articulations should be taken as suggestions only, as performers are encouraged to make their own interpretations.