The BYU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band Continue Tradition of ‘Russian Christmas Music’

The ensembles will perform individually before sharing the stage for “Minor Alterations” and “Russian Christmas Music”

The BYU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band — directed by Don Peterson and Kirt Saville respectively — will continue their annual tradition of celebrating the Christmas season together in their Dec. 12 concert.

“The best part of this Christmas concert is that we get to combine two bands for a huge performance — it’s really fun to have that much brass on stage,” said Wind Symphony member Shaylee Croxall. “I’m looking forward to putting on this concert with other people who love the same thing that I do, both those that I’m already friends with and those I get to meet through this performance.”

Both bands will perform individual sets before sharing the stage. The Symphonic Band’s portion of the concert will include pieces such as Alfred Reed’s arrangement of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Yasuhide Ito’s “Symphony in Three Scenes,” and the Wind Symphony will perform “Sound the Bells!” by John Williams and Joaquin Turina’s “Five Miniatures” — in anticipation of the band’s future tour to Spain.

The ensembles will combine for “Minor Alterations” — a humorous twist on traditional Christmas songs that has become an audience and student favorite over the years — and their traditional performance of Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music,” in which brass players from the Philharmonic Orchestra will join in from the back of the hall.

“This is a major band piece that really captures the feeling of Russia,” Peterson said of the concert finale. “We decided to combine to perform it a few years ago, and our students asked us if we could add it to the program again the next year. Now we take turns conducting it, and every year past band members come back to hear it again. It’s a huge ending to the concert.”

Peterson hopes that the BYU wind bands will help bring the Christmas spirit to campus and community audiences.

“We want to give audiences some excellent concert band music, but also a flavor of Christmas,” he said. “There’s something about having 130 wind and percussion players in the hall playing together that makes it all feel pretty festive and joyous — we want people to walk out of this concert excited for the season and rejoicing.” 

Tickets and Show Details

Performance Dates and Times: Dec. 12 | 7:30 p.m.

Location: de Jong Concert Hall

Price: $6-11

Tickets: Available in person at the BYU HFAC or Marriott Center Ticket Office, by phone at (801) 422-2981 or online at byuarts.com