The Heights Medley arrangement

The Heights Medley Christmas arrangement by Bill Fulton was created for the 2009 production of Holiday Spirit in Los Angeles. Fulton prepared the arrangement for clients Stewart Wilson-Turner and Stuart K. Robinson as part of the music for this live holiday production.

The Heights Medley combines three familiar Christmas selections: Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow, O Holy Night, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Each song brings a different musical character to the medley. As a result, the arrangement moves through contrasting moods while remaining connected as one complete piece.

The Heights Medley Christmas Arrangement for Holiday Spirit

Fulton wrote the medley for Holiday Spirit in 2009. The production took place at Ebony Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles. The theatre presents professional theatre, music, dance, and other performing arts programming at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center.

The production also included other arrangements by Fulton. These included All I’ll Ever Need, Carol of the Bells, and Little Drummer Boy. Therefore, the project required several pieces that could work together as part of the same holiday program while maintaining their own individual identities.

Three Christmas Songs in One Medley

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow gives the medley a traditional spiritual character. In contrast, O Holy Night provides a more expansive and lyrical section. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel receives a more contemporary rhythmic treatment, adding a funky feel and another layer of contrast.

The Heights Medley Christmas arrangement brings these different musical styles together within one show-band setting. The transitions help move the listener from one song to the next while preserving the character of each melody.

Arranging a Christmas Medley for Show Band

A successful medley requires more than placing several tunes next to one another. The arranger must create logical transitions and maintain a sense of direction. Tempo, harmony, dynamics, texture, and instrumentation can all help connect contrasting sections.

Live show-band writing also requires practical consideration of the performers. Each instrumental part needs to support the ensemble while allowing important melodies and musical details to remain clear. Moreover, familiar holiday material benefits from fresh treatment without losing the qualities that make the songs recognizable.

Bill Fulton works as an arranger, composer, pianist, and orchestrator. His professional arranging experience includes big band, little big band, orchestra, strings, horn sections, vocalists, recording projects, live productions, film, and television.

The Heights Medley represents one example of Fulton’s work adapting familiar music for a specific live production. It also shows how contrasting traditional and contemporary musical approaches can work together within a single arrangement.

Explore more arranging and composing projects by Bill Fulton, including music for big band, little big band, orchestra, strings, horn sections, vocalists, and other professional ensembles.

For information about commissioning a custom arrangement, orchestration, or composition, contact Bill Fulton Music.

Year: 2009
Job Category: Arranger
Title: Heights Medley
Ensemble: combo
Client: Stewart Wilson-Turner & Stuart K Robinson
Description: Holiday Spirit 2009 at Ebony Repertory Theater
Get arrangement: link to arrangement (pending)