A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You) Cover Image

A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You): SATB, <i>a cappella</i> Choral Octavo

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A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You) Cover Image
A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You): SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo

A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You): SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Words and music by Kirby Shaw

Item: 00-39874
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Description
This clever a cappella original is reminiscent of doo-wop groups from the '50s and '60s. The choir sings a "bop-bop-bop" refrain alternately with classic back-ups, as a soloist or small group croons the flirtatious text, weaving in popular song titles from back in the day.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Doo-Wop Christmas (With You): SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 038081445359
SKU: 00-39874

More about this title

About the Composer: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw's influence extends across the choral world through decades of teaching, composing, and performing. Trained at San Jose State University in music education and choral composition, and holding a DMA in choral conducting from the University of Washington, Shaw has worked in public schools and directed innovative vocal jazz ensembles at the College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and Southern Oregon University. His career spans five continents, and he has mentored singers while also studying jazz improvisation with vocalists including Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks.

As a composer and arranger with more than 2,500 works in print, Shaw has created music performed globally and distributed nearly 20 million copies. His prolific output has earned multiple ASCAP awards, and his recent commissions include work for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beyond his choral work, Shaw performs with Just 4 Kicks, a jazz a cappella quartet, and co-authored Scroogical, an original musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol with his wife, Markita.

Why we love this

Shaw captures the infectious energy and rhythmic playfulness of 1950s and '60s doo-wop while keeping the arrangement fresh and genuinely funny. The piece works as both a crowd-pleaser and a teaching tool because the harmonic backing and rhythmic refrain give singers something concrete to lock into, while the soloist or small group gets to inhabit a character and deliver the lyrical surprises. It's the kind of novelty piece that audiences remember and singers actually enjoy rehearsing.

What to expect

Picture a convertible, poodle skirts, and a singer leaning against a jukebox. This arrangement captures that vintage sweetness and sass, complete with the rhythmic snap of doo-wop vocal percussion and the knowing humor of hidden song references. It's light without being trivial, nostalgic without feeling stale.

Who it's for

Choirs with secure blend and intonation who enjoy comedy and period styles will thrive with this piece. It works for high school, college, and community choirs that want a program opener or closer with genuine entertainment value and enough musical substance to respect both the audience and the singers.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish a clear, steady pulse in the "bop-bop-bop" refrain through counting or a conductor's clear gesture; lock the rhythm section (or bass and any singers holding the beat) so the soloist has a solid foundation.
  • Direct the soloist or small group to lean into the flirtation and character of the text, treating the woven-in song title references as comedic moments rather than rushing through them.
  • Balance the call-and-response between the full choir's backing vocals and the solo line so both are audible; the novelty lands only when the audience hears both layers clearly.
  • Shape the phrasing in the backing parts as if the singers are genuine 1950s vocalists committed to their "bop" parts, not simply marking time; this commitment to character lifts the whole arrangement.

How to use it

Open a winter concert with this piece to set an upbeat, engaging tone before moving into more substantial repertoire. It pairs well on a program with other holiday or secular selections and gives audiences an immediate sense that the choir is having fun. The novelty and humor also make it a strong choice for community performances or holiday pops concerts where accessibility is a priority.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion in a cappella singing
  • Character interpretation and lyrical delivery in a comedic context
  • Differentiation between background harmony parts and solo line balancing
  • Historical period awareness and stylistic authenticity in mid-20th century vocal music

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