All I Want For Christmas Is You (arr. Martin Cornelissen): SSAATB Choral Octavo

Cornelissen's arrangement captures the infectious energy of this holiday standard while giving your ensemble real work to do. The SSAATB voicing provides flexibility for mixed and treble choirs, and the six-part writing creates the lush, contemporary sound students hear on the recording without sacrificing singability.

Warm, sparkly, and undeniably festive. The six-part voicing creates a cushion of sound that feels both modern and rich, with enough melodic interest throughout the ensemble that every singer stays engaged rather than doubling the melody.

Directors with mixed or treble choirs looking for contemporary holiday material that connects with students and audiences alike. This arrangement works for choirs comfortable with pop idioms and wanting repertoire that feels current without straying from strong vocal pedagogy.

• Balance the soprano line carefully during the hook; it should float above the rest of the ensemble rather than dominate, which keeps the pop style intact.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic precision in the sections where voices enter staggered. This creates the signature Mariah Carey stacked vocal texture only if your singers lock in together.
• Shape phrases through vowel consistency and breath placement rather than dynamic changes. The contemporary pop sound relies on steady support and clear articulation.

Drop this into your December concert as a showstopper that resonates with families and students equally. It pairs well with traditional carols, offering a contemporary anchor point that demonstrates how classical vocal technique serves popular music.

• Balancing independent melodic lines within a pop harmonic texture
• Sustaining consistent vowel quality across wide interval jumps
• Interpreting rhythmic precision in contemporary song styles
• Reading six-part SSAATB voicing
• Blending within subdivided sections while maintaining individual phrase shape