Christmas, Here We Come!: 3-Part Choral Octavo
A Medley of Carols
Arr. Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0006537
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
There's no better way to open or close your holiday concert than with this rousing arrangement of carols by Alfred composer Sally K. Albrecht! "Here We Come A-Caroling," "Over the River and Through the Wood," "I Saw Three Ships," and many other Christmas favorites are set in a festive 6/8 meter to create this joyful feature for any age choir. And you can team up with your school band on the sensational and playable arrangement by John O'Reilly (Concert Band #22275). An optional SoundTrax CD is available.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006537
Instrumentation:
Opt. Concert Band
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has spent over thirty years shaping choral music for schools and young singers, including a lengthy tenure as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music. A prolific arranger and composer with more than 600 published works, she has been honored with the ASCAP Special Music Award annually since 1987 and has conducted honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama and M.M. in Accompanying), and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. She received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College in 2021. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht has arranged these beloved carols in a unified 6/8 meter that gives the whole piece infectious forward motion while keeping each melody instantly recognizable. The SAB voicing sits comfortably across mixed-age choirs without sacrificing harmonic interest, and the optional concert band arrangement by John O'Reilly means you can expand this into a genuine collaborative moment between your ensemble groups.
What to expect
Joyful and spirited, with the bright snap of 6/8 giving these familiar carols a contemporary lift. The medley structure creates momentum that carries listeners through a mini tour of Christmas classics without losing the warmth that makes these melodies matter.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for any mixed-age choir, from middle school through adult community groups. It's especially valuable when you need a high-energy opener or closer with genuine appeal across skill levels and vocal maturity.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the 6/8 pulse steady and buoyant throughout; this meter thrives on rhythmic clarity in the accompaniment, so lock in with your pianist or use the recorded accompaniment to establish the groove early in rehearsals.
- Shape phrases across the carol transitions so the medley doesn't feel like a collection of separate songs; think of it as one continuous celebration with new melodies arriving rather than stopping and starting.
- Balance the three parts carefully when carols overlap or when inner voices carry countermelody; SAB writing can muddy quickly if the altos aren't singing with intention and support.
How to use it
Open your holiday concert with this piece to establish an upbeat, celebratory tone immediately. If you have a concert band also performing, coordinate with that director to close the first half with both ensembles on stage together, creating a spectacular collaborative moment that audiences find memorable.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 6/8 meter with stylistic accuracy
- Balancing three independent vocal lines with clarity
- Transitioning smoothly between distinct melodic themes within a medley structure
- Blending with instrumental accompaniment or recorded tracks