"Ding Dong! Merrily on High"

Scored for Chorus and Full Orchestra;  Duration is 4 minutes

Information about "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"

Duration & Difficulty Level
Featured Carol
Description
Quotes & Reviews
Instrumentation

Duration & Difficulty Level DURATION:  ca. 4 minutes

DIFFICULTY LEVEL FOR CHORUS:  Moderately Difficult — recommended for professional choirs or high-quality community choirs 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL FOR ORCHESTRA:  Difficult — recommended only for professional players

Carol Featured in the Arrangement

"Ding Dong! Merrily on High"
(Words: G.F. Woodward (1848-1934) ; Melody: 16th-century French)

(Note: This is an original work based on a carol whose words and melody are in the public domain.  This work is copyright by Peter Bloesch, and all rights are reserved, including the right to perform, record, or broadcast the piece.)

Description of "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"

I've always loved the quaintness of this carol, and my arrangement seeks to bring the text to life in a vivid and charming way. 

The piece begins with the magical sound of a distant church bell (played on the chimes) amid the gentle flutter of trills in the string section.  The tenors and basses begin the first verse with an air of hushed excitement, as if they are truly awed by the fact that the sky "is riven with angel singing."

The arrangement proceeds in a magical way, alternating between moods of hushed awe, playful celebration, and solemn majesty.  The final "Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!" is grand and thrilling, and the piece ends on a note of high drama.

Quotes and Reviews of "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"

Joe Harnell, Hollywood composer and arranger:

"Peter, your 'Fantasia on Two Christmas Carols' [which contains "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"] is brilliant - fast and fun throughout.  I hope that orchestras around the country will take note of these arrangements, because they're terrific!"

— Joe Harnell
Film Composer and Lecturer; Arranger for many celebrated singers, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Beverly Sills

Richard P. Hoffman, choral conductor:

"It was my happy privilege to work with Peter Bloesch in 1997 on the première of his delightful work, 'Fantasia on Two Christmas Carols' [which contains "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"].  At the time, I served as Music Director for the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale (which was the chorus-of-choice for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra) and we were invited to sing Bloesch's new work.  How refreshing and brilliant this piece turned out to be!

"Not content merely to write splendid choral music, Bloesch showed a mastery at orchestration, and the combined effect was dazzling.  My choir was particularly impressed with Bloesch's choral writing and his thoughtful use of the voice.  This work, and the several holiday pieces which have followed in subsequent years, are destined to be found in the repertoire of fine orchestras and choruses everywhere."

— Richard P. Hoffman
Professor of Music Education and Choral Music, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and former Director, Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale

The Cedar Rapids Gazette:

"The Concert Chorale's performance of 'Fantasia on Two Christmas Carols' [which contains "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"] arranged by Iowan Peter Bloesch, was one of the highlights of the evening."

— The Cedar Rapids Gazette, excerpt from review by George C. Ford, reprinted with permission.  © The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Click here for more quotes and reviews of my Holiday Pops music.

Instrumentation for "Ding Dong! Merrily on High"

2 Flutes, 1 Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 1 English Horn, 3 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contrabassoon, 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones (2 tenors and 1 bass), 1 Tuba

4 Percussionists: 1 timpanist (4 timps) ; 3 percussionists on the following instruments: Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Chimes, Vibraphone, Piatti, Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Triangle

1 Harp

1 Electronic Keyboard, with the following sounds: acoustic piano, celeste

(Note:  A real piano and celeste could certainly be used!)

Strings

SATB Chorus