Christmas Is All Around (from Love Actually) (arr. Roger Emerson): 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's arrangement captures the infectious warmth of the original while making it genuinely singable for mixed choirs. The 3-part voicing sits comfortably across ranges, the text setting feels natural rather than forced, and the tune's repetitive, hook-driven structure works in your favor: students lock onto it quickly, and audiences recognize it immediately. It's the rare holiday piece that doesn't feel saccharine or exhausting to rehearse.

Cheerful and conversational, with an almost spoken-word quality that makes it feel intimate despite its celebratory nature. The melody lodges itself immediately in listeners' heads, creating that satisfying recognition when familiar music appears in a choral setting. It radiates sincerity without pretension.

Choirs looking for a contemporary Christmas selection that feels fresh without requiring advanced vocal technique. This works equally well for community choirs, school programs, and smaller ensemble concerts where accessibility and audience appeal matter.

• Let the rhythm breathe. This arrangement thrives on a conversational, almost spoken quality in the opening; resist the urge to over-conduct or rush the phrasing, especially in the first verse.
• Balance the unison and divided sections carefully. When the parts split, blend each layer distinctly rather than letting voices blur together; this keeps the arrangement's texture transparent.
• Lean into the humor and sincerity coexisting in this piece. The lyrics carry both playful warmth and genuine affection, so encourage singers to commit emotionally without winking at the audience.
• Use dynamics to shape the arrangement's arc. A modest swell into key moments prevents the piece from feeling one-dimensional across its seven pages.

Pair this with one or two contrasting holiday arrangements (perhaps something traditional or minor-key) to avoid tonal fatigue across a full Christmas concert. Its film origin and contemporary feel make it an ideal bridge piece between classical and pop-inflected holiday selections, or use it to open a program on a high-energy note. The seven-page length means it won't dominate your rehearsal schedule while delivering disproportionate audience enjoyment.

• Singing in 3-part mixed voicing with balanced blend
• Text clarity and natural phrasing in a rhythmically driven arrangement
• Responding to dynamic and interpretive direction
• Ensemble awareness within a contemporary song structure