Christmas Day Will Soon Be Here!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid
Item: 00-PO-0005950
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
All the glee and joy of a much-anticipated holiday bursts off the page in this cheerful, chipper showstopper, which features a nice balance of unison and beginning-level two-part singing. For an extra festive touch, add the optional glockenspiel part or the perky SoundTrax CD.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005950
More about this title
About the Composer: Mary Donnelly
Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied English and French at the University of Nevada before discovering her true calling in music education. During her college years, she organized children's choruses and found the work so fulfilling that she pursued formal training, earning a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she focused on integrating the arts across the curriculum.
Donnelly taught general music and choir in elementary and middle schools throughout the Washoe County School District for three decades. In 1985, while team-teaching sixth grade music with George Strid, their principal challenged them to write a musical for Reading Week. That collaboration sparked a prolific partnership that has produced over two hundred songs and twenty-five full musicals. Both active in ACDA and ASCAP, Donnelly and Strid continue to create accessible, engaging choral works that bring energy to rehearsals and performances.
Why we love this
This piece captures genuine holiday excitement without requiring your singers to master complex harmonies or navigate dense arrangements. The unison-to-two-part structure lets singers experience the confidence of ensemble singing at an early stage, and the optional glockenspiel part gives you a simple way to add sparkle without overwhelming your rehearsal time.
What to expect
Bursting with anticipation and pure joy, this arrangement captures the rush of holiday excitement through bright melodic lines and straightforward harmonies. The piece bounces along with infectious energy, making singers feel like they're part of something celebratory rather than something they have to work hard to execute.
Who it's for
Elementary and middle school choirs ready to move beyond unison but not yet secure with independent part-singing. This works equally well in general music classes where you want a concert piece that feels accessible and fun.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the unison sections bright and energized; these moments anchor the piece and need strong ensemble commitment to land the festive mood.
- Balance the two-part sections carefully by encouraging singers to listen across the room rather than just locking into their own line.
- If you add the glockenspiel part, give the player a clear cue to enter so the part enhances rather than distracts from the vocal sound.
- Use the recorded accompaniment in rehearsals to build confidence in your singers' parts before moving to live accompaniment.
How to use it
Perfect for early December concerts when you need something that gets immediate applause and feels like a crowd-pleaser. Program this after a slower or more serious selection to shift the emotional temperature and send audiences home smiling.
Skills your students will build
- Beginning two-part independence while maintaining ensemble blend
- Maintaining bright vowel placement and diction at faster tempos
- Listening across voice parts to lock in harmonies
- Singing with confidence in unison sections that anchor the arrangement
- Responding to clear expressive direction in a celebratory context