Take a trip around the world with your students, experiencing the music and styles of eight countries and regions: The United States, Italy, Mexico, the Middle East, China, Austria, Russia and France. The popular Christmas carol We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year is set in the style of music representing each of these locations. Your students will enjoy seeing how a familiar melody can be changed into something quite different but still maintain its original identity.
 
The first violin part makes extensive use of third position but does not go beyond third position. The other parts remain in first position. The piece contains key changes, tempo changes, and chromatic passages along with spiccato passages. Included are full orchestral score, 8 Violin I parts, 8 Violin II parts, 5 Viola parts, 5 Cello parts, 5 Double Bass parts and 4 Violin III parts that can be used in place of viola. The work is on the Grade 4 level and is approximately 8 minutes long.