Christmas, Christmas, Christmas: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse knows exactly what works for busy holiday seasons: quick-learning melodies that repeat, accessible ranges for developing singers, and built-in fun through novelty elements like kazoo parts. The piano part stays supportive rather than elaborate, freeing you to focus on part-singing fundamentals without sacrificing the festive energy your choir needs right now.

Bright and unpretentious, this arrangement celebrates Christmas favorites with warmth and humor. The repeated melodies feel like meeting old friends, while the kazoo interjections add just enough quirk to keep performers and audiences smiling without tipping into parody.

This piece serves 2-part choirs during the holiday crunch when rehearsal time shrinks and music must stick quickly. It works equally well for school choirs navigating mixed vocal maturity levels and community groups seeking accessible, entertaining material that still demands musicianship.

• Record your choir singing the second part alone and play it back during sectional rehearsals; hearing the harmony in isolation builds confidence and independence before the full performance.
• Assign enthusiastic singers to kazoo parts on the two well-known tunes; even non-readers can succeed with this rhythm-based accompaniment element.
• Keep the energy bright but resist the urge to rush; the simple melodies deserve space to sit with clear diction and clean ensemble blend.
• Use the SoundTrax CD recording as a learning tool in the week before performance; let singers hear the full arrangement with their part separated out.

Slot this into the lighter half of a December concert, pairing it with one or two more substantial seasonal pieces to balance your program. It also works beautifully as an encore or as the closing piece if you want to send the audience home with joy and accessibility rather than reverence.

• Singing in two parts with independent melodic lines
• Sight-reading simple rhythmic figures and repeated phrase structures
• Ensemble blend and balance across part sections
• Performing with rhythmic precision and clear diction at faster tempos