A Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Donnelly and Strid have mastered the art of writing novelty pieces that land exactly right with young singers. The melody sits naturally in a two-part texture without sacrificing personality or humor, and the 'hoedown' character gives your students something genuinely fun to perform rather than merely cute.

Unpretentious and infectious. The piece captures genuine good humor without winking at the audience; it's a celebration that feels earned rather than imposed. Your singers will feel the lightness in the music, which translates directly to their performance energy.

Elementary and middle school choirs looking for a contemporary holiday selection that avoids saccharine territory. The level is genuinely accessible for younger singers or those with limited reading experience, making it ideal for mixed-readiness ensembles.

• Lean into the rhythmic precision during the hoedown sections; even though the piece reads easily, keeping the kick and snap in the rhythm is what sells the down-home energy.
• The recorded accompaniment captures the fiddle and percussion textures beautifully. Use it during rehearsals to help your singers hear how their parts sit in the full arrangement.
• Don't underestimate the power of simple choreography or movement here. A piece this playful invites your singers to commit physically to the character.

Place this in the second half of your holiday concert as a mood-shifter after more serious seasonal fare. Its brevity and punch make it the perfect palate cleanser before a final sing-along or benediction piece, and it gives your audience permission to leave the concert smiling.

• Singing two-part harmony with clear voice independence
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in a contemporary novelty style
• Performing with character and stylistic nuance while reading at an accessible level
• Coordination of melody and accompaniment through recorded tracks