Below are a number of seasonal instrumental orchestrations and arrangements written by John Curtis and Sue Merryweather, based on existing Jubilate arrangements by Noel Tredinnick, John Barnard, David Peacock, David Iliff and others. Adding instruments to worship adds extra colour and variety, enables more people to use their gifts, and provides a great opportunity for outreach, by involving people on the fringe or outside the church (eg schools); it’s something I’m always keen to promote!

John’s arrangements are for all-age orchestra, with score and lots of parts, including easy ones; they are deliberately straightforward and flexible in design so that they can be adapted for the instruments available and varied for different verses. Sue’s are aimed at less experienced players, including simple percussion.

You can download these as a pdf, then print off whatever pages you need, so whether you have one flute or a full orchestra these parts could be a valuable resource.  If you would like any of John’s arrangements in a different key contact me and I can send you an alternative version.

Roger Peach, Editorial Co-ordinator, The Jubilate Group 


  1. Away in a manger – arr Merryweather
  2. Ding dong! Merrily on high - orch. Curtis
  3. Hush, little baby -  arr Merryweather
  4. It came upon the midnight clear - orch. Curtis
  5. Mary came with meekness - orch. Curtis
  6. Mary had a baby -  arr Merryweather
  7. On Christmas night (SUSSEX CAROL) - orch. Curtis
  8. Once in royal David's city - arr Merryweather
  9. Riding out across the desert - arr Merryweather
  10. See him lying on a bed of straw (CALYPSO CAROL) - orch. Curtis
  11. See, amid the winter snow - orch. Curtis
  12. Silent Night (STILLE NACHT) - arr Merryweather
  13. WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS - arr Merryweather
  14. What child is this, who, laid to rest (Perry version) – orch. Curtis


  1. Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA) 
  2. Glory to Jesus (MACCABEUS) 
  3. Jesus Christ is risen today (EASTER HYMN)
  4. Jesus lives! (ST ALBINUS, arr Barnard) 


  1. Come, you thankful people, come (Jubilate version) 
  2. Praise God for harvest time 
  3. To you, O Lord, our hearts we raise
  4. The Lord restored us - we were freed
  5. We plough the fields and scatter