Santa the Barbarian (Grade 1, Randall Standridge)

As I have stated before, I often suffer from an overactive imagination. This is not precisely true, as I don’t really suffer…I enjoy all of the strange ideas that my mind comes up with. And I have the perfect ace in the hole, too, as any time someone asks me to explain myself, I simply say, “I’m artistic.” But, I digress…

During my career as a composer, I have written a multitude of Christmas works. These are always quite challenging, as you have two factors working against from the outset. One, you are dealing with a very limited amount of recognizable material, as you can only use works that are in the public domain, and two, you are writing in an over-populated genre in which almost every conceivable combination of holiday tunes has been plumbed to death. The challenge, then, is to find a new angle that puts a different spin on well loved holiday classics.

Enter Santa the Barbarian.

In this work, I have reimagined the jolly old elf as a warrior of the winter wastes. The familiar tunes of Up on the Housetop and Jingle Bells are transformed into a war cry for this incarnation of Santa, as he navigates the snowy desert with his eight mighty reign-deer: Basher, Danger, Lancer, Victim, Bomb-it, Brutis, Runner, and Blitz-Them. On Christmas night, he fights his way across the unforgiving terrain in time to bring toys to all the good children, leaving a path of destruction and candy cane carnage in his wake.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from me to you and yours!!

[briangay]

As a band teacher, it makes me so happy to see all these band students in the comments that are excited for this music and band in general - don't ever quit, kids!

[Ceebsmaster]

As a percussionist who has played this piece, THERE IS NOT A BETTER FRELING THAN FEELING THE DRUMS BEAT IN YOUR HEART!!!

[rhianaclay]

My band teacher is having the us play this at the Christmas concert! I luv it so much <3

[flexy]

As a baritone player.. this song was my favorite piece out of all of them.. like I absolutely loved this song especially our eighth notes and stuff. The chanting, narration, everything. Love it.

[Loveisnoteasyy]

I play flute and my school has to do this and my section flipped out when they found out the flutes kinda have a solo

[Addo_dragons]

I played this song in concert band, and I carried the whole song with that tambourine part 😎

[dobagorp_yaps]

Played the marimba for this song, hardest experience of my life

[im_batman]

Im 8th grade, I play flute and we are doing this piece in band! I love it so much! My favourite part is the little melody’s from different instruments that you can hear in the background! I love this piece! One of my favs

[bradysmith]

My band is playing this for our Christmas concert today. It’s such a cool song in my opinion. As a mallet player this is my favorite song I’ve ever played just because of the amount of cool parts in it! It makes me feel like I’m in a movie!

[ifkdurmom]

We're playing this in my 7th grade band :)

[TheSld]

My daughter begged her band teacher to let them play this and they wouldn’t. The previous one let the kids the year before and she was so disappointed. We were too.

[lourdesmoreno]

I loved playing this it is of my favorite pieces we played

[fredcorruptted]

The rest of my band and me agree this is one of the best pieces of music we have played. We love it so much. In the middle of class the teacher that we are in class with yells at us because one of us will sing the melody and the other does trombones ham notes. 😂😂

[hrtbreakfeelzsogood]

The 7th graders played this at one of our band concerts and our old principal dressed as Santa and ran around with a sword. It. Was. Awesome.

[allthestarsinthesky]

At my band concert, I will be playing marimba in this song and i love it sm

[dvvinezz]

PLAYING THIS IN MY BAND FOR THE WINTER CONCERT!! ITS REALLY GOOD ^^

[GenralVex]

So everyone's band is playing this (including mine)

[locomotive]

My band has played one of your songs at nearly every one of our concerts since I started. I love playing and listening to your music--especially Darklands March and both Santa the Barbarians--your music can always help me destress. Our band is always excited to play another one of your pieces and your music has helped me through some pretty rough days, and you've sparked an interest in composing for me as well. Thank you for everything you do Randall Standridge.

[CrownMeClown]

I thoroughly enjoyed playing this song

[ciptic]

Honestly this is one of the best band songs I've ever heard