Christmas Is Coming! (arr. Lee R. Kesselman): Unison/Opt. 2-Part Choral Octavo

Kesselman gives you a unison carol with optional two-part harmony, which means you're not locked into a single voicing. Sing it straight through with younger voices or add the harmony when your ensemble is ready. The flexibility lets you reprogram the same piece across multiple years without feeling repetitive.

The carol radiates straightforward joy and warmth. There's nothing overwrought here; instead, the simplicity of the melody invites genuine singing and lets the text shine through.

Elementary and middle school choirs will find this accessible and musically rewarding. Community choirs and intergenerational holiday programs also benefit from a piece that welcomes singers of varying ability.

• Keep the melody line singing through the phrases without scooping or sliding into notes. Clean articulation lets the carol's simple beauty speak.
• If you're using the optional second part, rehearse it separately first so singers stay secure in their own line before blending.
• Balance the optional harmony so it supports rather than overwhelms the unison melody; the top line should remain the primary focus.

This works beautifully in a winter concert's opening group of carols, where you want something the audience recognizes immediately and your singers can deliver with confidence. It pairs well alongside more complex holiday arrangements as a moment of clarity and directness.

• Singing sustained melodic lines with clear articulation
• Reading and performing optional two-part harmony
• Blending unison voices across a full ensemble
• Interpreting text with musical intention in a familiar carol context