Tchaikovsky's enchanting Christmas fairy tale is his most popular work and, along with Swan Lake, the world's most frequently performed ballet. The work is a masterpiece of orchestration (including the historic first use of the celesta, in Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy ) and is essential study for students of orchestral combinations and effects. Musicians will rejoice that previously difficult-to-find favorites like Waltz of the Snowflakes and Spanish Dance (Chocolate) are now available, along with the rest of this beloved score, in an affordable, single-volume edition.