Merritts Hill Music

Are you looking for a short bright Christmas number that your audience won't have heard before? This is the second of Lyadov's Eight Russian Folk Songs Op.58 and is strictly speaking an advent carol. Russian children traditionally performed their nativity plays as a puppet show, and the staccato opening and closing mimic the jerky steps of the marionettes.

This arrangement includes two versions. One is in the original key of E minor and the other is in E flat which may suit brass band instruments better. Each has a comprehensive set of parts for all instruments, so whoever you are, you can try them both.