Bad King Wenceslas is a playful twist on the familiar Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas. Throughout the piece, rhythmic and melodic motifs from the carol are presented in a dark, mysterious context. The introduction features an ostinato in the flute, building in momentum before revealing the melody in double time in the lower winds. The piece progresses with alternating eighth-note patterns and a variety of thematic development, culminating in a canon that features different instrument sections. The piece transitions through a dramatic key change and ends with fanfare motifs in the brass. The conductor should ensure that the melody remains balanced throughout, and all percussion parts are integral to the mood and momentum.