ROCKET SLEIGH
Original Christmas Overture for Orchestra or Concert Band
ROCKET SLEIGH is fast becoming the most popular new addition to the holiday pops repertoire for orchestra and concert band in the United States.
Since 2009, this 4-minute overture has been performed by over 100 orchestras including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and other orchestras in the UK, Canada, Croatia and Germany - plus many collegiate and community ensembles.
The band version (Grade 4), created for and premiered by the Dallas Wind Symphony, has also been performed by the United States Coast Guard Band, symphonic bands at major universities like Brigham Young and Wake Forest, and by select high school ensembles across the country.
Rocket Sleigh is now a part of the touring repertoire of Cirque de la Symphonie.
Scroll down to listen!
2023 PERFORMANCES
Boston Pops * US Coast Guard Band * Kansas City Symphony * Columbus Symphony * Hartford Symphony (with Cirque de la Symphonie) * Naples Philharmonic * Missouri Symphony * Lima Symphony * Allentown Symphony * Duluth Superior Symphony * Augusta Symphony (GA) Firelands Symphony (OH) * Northern Dutchess Symphony (NY) * Pennsylvania Philharmonic * Allegro Orchestra Lancaster * Warwick Symphony (RI) * Butler University Wind Ensemble
ROCKET SLEIGH has now been performed in 45 states and the District of Columbia, plus Canada, the UK, Germany, and Croatia.
PRESS
“"It was clear from the opening that something different was afoot. The brilliant “Rocket Sleigh” by Boston-based Delvyn Case was spicy and colorful, splashy, driving with some beautiful quiet moments, yet decidedly today." - Rutland (Vermont) Herald
Boston Globe article on “Rocket Sleigh” by Robert Knox.
"Another surprise is a new work by Delvyn Case, Rocket Sleigh, which is a fine orchestral miniature worth considering for a change of pace from some of the more familiar sleigh ride pieces this time of year. " - Cinemusical
“It really does sound like a sleigh just shooting across the sky,” Chafetz said. “It’s wonderful.” - Stuart Chafetz, Principal Pops conductor, Columbus Symphony, in The Columbus Dispatch
Another new to me piece was Delvyn Case’s Rocket Sleigh, to which [conductor] Mr. [Bob] Bernhardt shared something to the point of “….imagine Santa and NASA.” Upon listening it would have been a fabulous piece to accompany a certain scene in the movie Elf. If you’ve seen the movie, you will know what I’m referring to. - Keith Waits, Arts-Louisville.com
FOR ORCHESTRA
Full Orchestra Version
3.2.2.1. 4.3.3.1 timp+2 str
Reduced Version
1111-1110-timp+1, pno, str
Reduction includes optional 2nd chair winds and brass.
Listen to the reduced version performed by the Great Falls Symphony here.
Full orchestra and reduced orchestra versions both available to rent from LeDor Music, Inc.
Orchestras that have performed ROCKET SLEIGH
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Philharmonie Sudwestfalen (Germany), Zagreb Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Württembergische Philharmonie (Gemany), Kansas City Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Halle Orchestra (Manchester, UK), Windsor Symphony (Canada), San Diego Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Tulsa Signature Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Lima Symphony (OH), Lansing Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Erie Philharmonic, Grand Rapids Symphony, Allentown Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic, Winston-Salem Symphony, Portsmouth (NH) Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony (NY), Portland Symphony (ME), Missouri Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony (WV), Altoona Symphony (PA), Meridian Symphony (MS), Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Saginaw Bay Symphony (MI), Susquehanna Symphony (MD), Texarkana Symphony, Portsmouth Symphony (NH), Maui Pops Orchestra, Foothills Philharmonic (SC), Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. (IA), Midland Symphony (MI), Great Falls Symphony (MT), Symphony of the Americas (FL), Lone Tree Symphony (CO), Augusta Symphony (GA). Florida Orchestra, Evanston Symphony (IL), Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Denver Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Kootenays (BC), Duluth Superior Symphony, Washburn Symphony (KS), Allegro Orchestra Lancaster, Gulf Coast Symphony (FL), Ocala Symphony, Orchestra Kentucky, Riverside Symphonia (NJ), Northwest Florida Symphony, Quad City Symphony (IA), Northen Dutchess Symphony (NY), Wilmington Symphonia (VA), Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Boston Civic Symphony, Firelands Symphony (OH), Washington State University Symphony, Christopher Newport University Orchestra, Wartburg College-Community Orchestra (IA), Albany Symphony (GA), Whiting Park Symphony (IN), Washington Idaho Symphony (ID), Boston Civic Orchestra, Claflin Hill Symphony (MA), North Shore Philharmonic (MA), University of Portland Symphony, Starlight Symphony (TX), Cobb County Symphony (GA), Fall River Symphony (MA), Holyoke Civic Symphony (MA), Waltham Symphony (MA), St. Charles Symphony (MO), Quincy Symphony (MA), Warwick Symphony (RI), Parkway Concert Orchestra (MA), Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville, Houghton College Philharmonia (NY), University of Rhode Island Symphony, Christopher Newport University Symphony, Kutztown University Symphony (PA), North Hennepin Community Orchestra (MN), Maple Valley Youth Symphony (WA), Tallahassee Youth Orchestra, Harvard Pops Orchestra.
NEW! Version for Brass Quintet and concertante version for Brass Quintet and orchestra, both created for the Canadian Brass! Contact Delvyn Case for performance materials.
FOR CONCERT BAND
Click to download a free score
Click here to purchase performance materials from Murphy Music Press
Concert Bands that have performed ROCKET SLEIGH:
PROFESSIONAL: Dallas Wind Symphony, US Coast Guard Band, US Army TRADOC Band, Florida Wind Band, Alabama Winds. COLLEGIATE: Brigham Young University, Butler University, University of North Dakota, Utah Tech, Wake Forest University, Yale University, Eastern Arizona University, William & Mary, Florida Southern University, Lynchburg University, Carroll University, Florida College, Andrews University. COMMUNITY: Indiana Wind Symphony, Arlington (TX) Community Band, Triangle Wind Ensemble (VA), Arlington Heights Community Band, Greater Miami Symphonic Band, Casco Bay Concert Band (ME), Freeport (NY) Concert Band, Nashoba Symphonic Band, Kings Park Concert Band, Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony. PLUS HIGH SCHOOL BANDS in Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.
Listen to the world premiered performance by the Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin, conductor.