The Snowdrift Galop (incorporating Jingle Bells?)
Arranged for String Quartet by Hugh Levey

Looking for some familiar, yet very different Christmas Music? Look no further than the Snowdrift Galop written by British composer, Charles Coote Jnr.

Snowdrift Galop was published in London in 1868 in a small collection of works by various composers. The opening theme is immediately recognisable as the popular holiday favourite, Jingle Bells, which was published 11 years earlier, yet the composer gives no reference or credit to the earlier work. Although the opening theme is the same as Jingle Bells, we get a stately march instead of the familiar Jingle Bells chorus. A lovely Trio introduces another new tune which is played by viola then cello before returning to the opening section.

Charles Coote Jnr (1831-1916) was a prolific English composer of popular music, including quadrilles, waltzes and galops. His music was written for society balls and subsequently published for piano, so that others could play them at local dances or in their ownhomes. He was the son of composer and bandmaster, Charles Coote (1809-1880). Coote Snr worked for the 6th Duke of Devonshire for 30 years, conducted his private orchestra, and was referred to by the Duke as his ‘personal pianist’. Growing up in this environment would have ensured that Coote Jnr was well connected with British ‘society’.

Duration - 4 minutes