Wizards in Winter (O’Neill, Kinkel)
arranged for percussion ensemble
Rock in the holiday spirit with Wizards in Winter, the iconic 2004 hit by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra featured in television commercials and the spectacular Disney fountain and light show World of Color — Season of Light.
Arranged for percussion ensemble by Brian Flack, this work starts with a bang and does not let up for its entire three minutes. It is perfect for ensembles with a mix of players of varied experience and scored with optional parts and the ability to double keyboard parts, making it adaptable to a wide range of programs.
Minimal four-mallet work is required in the marimba 1 part, and left-hand octave doubling options are provided in the marimba 2 part to suit players of different experience levels. The timpani part provides low end and uses static pitches — no tuning changes required — while a relatively simple drumset part drives the piece through its twists and turns.
This arrangement is certain to be a ton of fun for the performers as well as their audience!
Wizards in Winter ships as a fully bound score and a set of printed parts.
- Crotales (2-octaves)*
- Glockenspiel
- Chimes*
- 2 Vibraphones
- Xylophone
- 2 Marimbas* — (low A)
- Drumset
- 4 Timpani
- Percussion — China cymbal, concert bass drum, mark tree, sleigh bells, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, triangle
*optional
Reviews
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Marco Schirripa –
“Wizards in Winter” is an adaptation of the 2004 Trans-Siberian Orchestra hit of the same name. The arrangement is not too challenging and has flexible instrumentation, with certain keyboard parts able to be multiplied or left out as needed. Additionally, the parts were created with varying experience levels in mind, allowing the strongest player, for instance, to take the difficult xylophone part, while the newest member of the ensemble may play the optional Marimba 3 part. The Marimba 1 and 2 parts share the same instrument, allowing for groups with limited instrumentation to program the piece, and creating a fun visual for the audience as the two players circle around each other in a choreographed fashion.
Overall, this a fun arrangement sure to be a crowd pleaser on a junior high or high school winter concert. It allows for a large number of players at different levels to all participate, while presenting an exciting and recognizable tune that will keep everyone engaged.
—Marco Schirripa
Percussive Notes
Vol. 63, No. 2, April 2025