MIKLÓS RÓZSA’S “A CHRISTMAS SEQUENCE”

Miklós Rózsa (1907—1992) is widely considered to be one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Rózsa kept one foot in concert halls and the other in movie studios. Among his best-known film scores are the ones he composed for The Thief of BagdadDouble IndemnityThe Lost WeekendSpellboundEl CidSodom and GomorrahKing of Kings, and Time After Time. Towering above all those is his Oscar-winning score for Ben-Hur.
In 1992 Christopher Palmer (who orchestrated scores for a handful of movies written by Rózsa and other composers) wove together Rósza’s Nativity music from Ben-Hur and King of Kings to create a symphonic suite entitled “A Christmas Sequence.”

Played as one continuous piece, the suite is in 4 sections:

I — Mary and Joseph from King of Kings

II — Star of Bethlehem from Ben-Hur

III — Adoration of the Magi from Ben-Hur

IV —The Nativity from King of Kings



INSTRUMENTATION: 3(III=Piccolo),2(II=Cor Anglais),2,2/4,2,2,1/Timp, 2 Percussion[Glock, Tri, Chimes, Tabor(or High TomTom), Song Bells(ad lib)]/Celesta (ad lib), Harp, Strings & Choir