A Take 6 Christmas (A Medley): SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Zegree's take on these carols strips away predictability without sacrificing reverence. The medley format lets you program substantial holiday content in a single piece, and the jazz voicings give singers something genuinely fun to sing rather than falling back on rote arrangements.

Jazz-tinged and intimate, this medley weaves four beloved carols into a cohesive arc that feels conversational rather than ceremonial. The a cappella setting invites close listening and allows the harmonic sophistication to shine without instrumental competition.

This medley is built for choirs comfortable with jazz harmony and looking to program Christmas music that engages both singers and audiences. Directors seeking fresh takes on familiar carols without instrumental accompaniment will find this particularly useful.

• Establish the groove immediately in the opening and keep it consistent across carol transitions; this medley lives or dies by rhythmic confidence from all four parts.
• Balance the blend carefully during sustained chords, where jazz voicings can sound muddy without precise intonation and vowel matching.
• Let the soloist (if designated) breathe naturally and own the phrasing; a cappella arrangements need expressive singers to stay alive.
• Mark phrase endings clearly in rehearsal so the choir understands where the style shifts or where a new carol begins.

Slot this into a Christmas concert where you want to showcase your choir's jazz chops and harmonic maturity. It pairs well with both traditional sacred repertoire and contemporary holiday selections, and its twelve-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a larger concert while still leaving room for other pieces.

• Jazz harmony and voice leading (seventh chords, alterations, chromatic movement)
• Maintaining independence in a cappella texture while blending with other parts
• Stylistic awareness of jazz phrasing and rhythm compared to traditional hymn singing
• Connecting across song transitions in a medley format