Anthem For Christmas: SAB Choral Octavo

John Purifoy's arrangement captures the emotional core of Smith's original while giving it the flexibility that SAB voicing demands. This is a Christmas piece that actually sounds fresh in December; it avoids the hymn-arrangement trap and delivers something your singers will want to perform.

Warm and open-hearted, with enough harmonic sophistication to keep musicians engaged. The piece breathes with a modern sensibility while maintaining genuine reverence, creating space for both ensemble clarity and vulnerable solo moments.

Choirs looking for a contemporary Christmas selection that sits comfortably in SAB range without sacrificing musicality or emotional impact. Works equally well for high school, community, and church choirs seeking something beyond traditional sacred arrangements.

• Pay attention to the dynamic curve Purifoy marks throughout. This arrangement relies on subtle shifts in texture to build momentum, so resist the urge to stay at one volume level for long stretches.
• Blend the three parts as voices rather than sectional blocks. The writing invites conversation between SAB lines, so encourage singers to listen across parts during rehearsal.
• Use the divisi sections to your advantage when available. If you have enough altos, split them; the extra harmonic color rewards the effort.

Position this as your contemporary Christmas offering alongside or instead of a traditional carol arrangement. Its seven pages fit naturally into a holiday concert set, either as a centerpiece during the second half or as a bridge between faster and slower selections. Works well as an encore, too.

• Balancing blend in three-part writing
• Navigating contemporary harmonic language
• Responding to dynamic shape and phrasing over multiple phrases
• Singing with expression in a pop-influenced vocal style