Comin' Up Christmas Time: SAB Choral Octavo

Andy Beck's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original Hanna-Barbera composition while building in multiple teaching moments. The inclusion of familiar carol phrases gives singers landmarks they recognize, and the explicit staging and choreography options transform what could be a simple opener into a full production moment that sets the tone for your entire concert.

Bright, celebratory, and playful. The novelty style invites humor and personality rather than reverence; singers feel permission to have fun with the material. The 2-beat style gives it a slightly retro television energy that feels both warm and purposeful.

Directors programming holiday concerts who need an opening number that feels fresh while remaining immediately accessible to SAB choirs. This works especially well for groups with mixed experience levels, since the familiar carol references give less confident singers secure footing while the arrangement offers enough textural interest to hold advanced singers' attention.

• Establish the 2-beat feel clearly in rehearsal; have the rhythm section lock the pulse early and singers follow their lead rather than pushing the tempo.
• Identify which familiar carol phrases appear in each voice part and highlight those moments in individual rehearsals so singers recognize their musical context.
• Plan your staging or choreography decisions before the first full run-through so singers can layer movement and blocking alongside the music rather than learning them separately.
• Keep the energy front-loaded; this piece thrives on brightness and forward momentum, so resist the urge to slow down or sentimentalize any section.

Open your holiday concert with this piece to set an upbeat, welcoming tone immediately. Its theatrical dimension makes it an ideal bridge between instrumental prelude and your main choral program, and it signals to your audience that you're offering entertainment alongside tradition.

• Singing in 2-beat feels and maintaining steady pulse in non-traditional meters
• Identifying and balancing carol quotations while maintaining the overall arrangement
• Coordinating movement and choreography with vocal parts
• Performing novelty-style repertoire with comedic precision and ensemble awareness