Carols, Bells, and Boughs of Holly!: Score
Traditional Carols / arr., with new music, by Alan Billingsley
Item: 00-PR-0005997
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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.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Carols, Bells, and Boughs of Holly!: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
106
SKU:
00-PR-0005997
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Arranger: Alan Billingsley
Alan Billingsley brings decades of professional arranging and composing across film, television, theme parks, and Broadway to the choral classroom. His work has earned Grammy consideration, and he has served as music director for major television productions while maintaining an active presence at Disney's educational clinician programs. His arrangements consistently balance accessibility with sophistication, making him a trusted voice in choral literature.
Based in Los Angeles, Billingsley operates a fully digital recording studio and holds a degree in music and psychology from Indiana University. His catalog spans educational settings, commercial recordings, and theatrical productions, giving him insight into what works both artistically and practically when teaching music to young singers.
Why we love this
Billingsley's gift for pacing shines in this medley. Four familiar carols could easily blur together, but his sequencing and orchestration keep each one distinct while maintaining unstoppable momentum across three and a half minutes. The arrangement respects the character of each tune (stately for 'Good King Wenceslas,' lilting for 'I Heard the Bells') while building ensemble energy throughout.
What to expect
Festive, propulsive, and genuinely joyful. The arrangement packs warmth and nostalgia into a tight package that never feels precious or overly sentimental. It's the musical equivalent of opening presents back-to-back.
Who it's for
Choirs in middle school through adult community settings who want a crowd-pleasing holiday number that sounds polished without requiring months of rehearsal. This works especially well for groups comfortable with moderate rhythmic energy and looking for a medley format that feels fresh rather than predictable.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the tempo transitions between carols. Even though the medley moves quickly, each song needs its own rhythmic identity to prevent running together.
- Use the SoundPax accompaniment as a rehearsal and performance tool from the start. It locks the ensemble into Billingsley's intended pacing and arrangement details.
- Pay close attention to articulation and diction during the 'rollicking' sections. Crisp consonants and bright vowels make the rhythmic energy land without sounding rushed.
- If you're adding choreography from When We Sing!, rehearse movement and singing separately first, then integrate them gradually to maintain musical integrity.
How to use it
Place this in the second half of a holiday concert after you've established the evening's mood with slower or more reverent pieces. Its energy resets the room and sends audiences home smiling. It pairs naturally with other secular carols or with instrumental holiday selections, and the optional choreography makes it a showstopper if your venue and rehearsal time allow.
Skills your students will build
- Executing clean tempo and meter changes within a single piece
- Maintaining rhythmic precision during quick-paced ensemble singing
- Distinguishing melodic and textural character across arrangements of familiar material
- Coordinating choreography with singing when movement elements are included