Carols, Bells, and Boughs of Holly!: SATB Choral Octavo
Traditional Carols / arr., with new music, by Alan Billingsley
Item: 00-PO-0005601
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Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This fast paced mini-medley is overflowing with holiday merriment! From the rollicking "Here We Come A-Caroling" and regal "Good King Wenceslas" to the sweet ballad treatment of "I Heard the Bells" and rhythm-charged "Deck the Hall," it's three-and-a-half minutes of Christmas cheer. Don't miss the SoundPax and SoundTrax CD, complete with all the bells and whistles. Consider adding choreography (from the When We Sing! DVD) for a glittering star atop the tree.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0005601
More about this title
About the Arranger: Alan Billingsley
Alan Billingsley brings decades of experience across educational publishing, commercial recordings, television, and theme park production. His arrangements and original compositions have appeared everywhere from network daytime television (where he served as music director and pianist for NBC's "Days of Our Lives") to Broadway-style musicals and Disney's worldwide attractions. He has been a frequent clinician at Disneyland's "Magic Music Days" and holds a degree in music and psychology from Indiana University.
Billingsley's work spans all musical styles and has earned recognition at the highest levels, with seven compositions receiving Grammy Award consideration. He operates a fully digital recording studio in Los Angeles and continues to write for educational markets, live performers, and theatrical productions. His arrangements combine accessibility with sophistication, making them favorites among music educators and their ensembles.
Why we love this
Billingsley knows how to pack maximum impact into a short timeframe without sacrificing musicality. This medley moves with genuine energy, balancing familiar melodies that audiences adore with fresh harmonic colors and rhythmic punch that keeps singers engaged and energized.
What to expect
A whirlwind of Christmas nostalgia wrapped in modern arranging craft. The piece gallops from one beloved carol to the next with theatrical flair, then pauses just long enough for the tender "I Heard the Bells" moment before launching into rhythm-forward fun. It's joyful without being saccharine, familiar yet surprising.
Who it's for
Community choirs, school choral programs, and church ensembles looking for a show-stopping holiday offering that requires minimal rehearsal time but delivers maximum festive spirit. The SATB voicing is accessible without being thin, and the medley format appeals to audiences of all ages.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo brisk and consistent across the transitions. The piece's three-and-a-half-minute duration depends on momentum; dragging between carols will deflate the excitement.
- Balance clarity in the text throughout the faster sections. "Deck the Hall" rhythmic material especially benefits from crisp articulation and unified vowel shapes.
- Lean into the contrast between the rollicking opening sections and the sweeter ballad quality of "I Heard the Bells." This shift gives the piece architecture and keeps listeners attentive.
- Layer in recorded accompaniment early in rehearsal to anchor the harmonic landscape and give singers a clear sense of where Billingsley's colors land.
How to use it
Program this as your second or third piece in a holiday concert to capitalize on its infectious energy and audience recognition. It pairs well before or after more traditional sacred carols, providing tonal and textural contrast. The movement and staging options (which pair with choreography from When We Sing!) make it an ideal finale or bookend to a holiday performance.
Skills your students will build
- Medley construction and transitions between contrasting tempos and styles
- Balancing rhythmic precision with lyrical phrasing in mixed material
- Quick shifts between rollicking articulation and legato singing
- Coordinating with recorded accompaniment while maintaining ensemble independence
- Stage presence and choreography integration