Countdown to Christmas: String Bass
Words by Deborah Craig-Claar, music from "March of the Toys" by Victor Herbert / arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PC-0018909_SB
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Description
Presenting Victor Herbert's instantly recognizable "March of the Toys" with all-new hilarious lyrics! This festive feature reads like a wacky to-do list of holiday preparations with non-stop punchlines from the choir and a couple cameo soloists. Your fullest sounds, brightest faces, and biggest personalities are on full display with this theatrical celebration of the season. Get ready to giggle when handheld percussion instruments and sound effects (played by choristers) introduce a parade of unwanted out-of-town guests. It's a crazy cast of characters and Christmas chaos straight out of a comedic holiday movie. Mark Hayes provides a showy piano reduction and a grand orchestration (on the SoundTrax or SoundPax) from fanfare to finish.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0018909_SB
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has established himself as one of the most prolific arrangers and composers working in choral and orchestral music today, with a catalog exceeding 1,750 published works. A summa cum laude graduate in Piano Performance from Baylor University, Hayes brings both technical mastery and theatrical sensibility to every project, whether composing sacred works like his Requiem (premiered at Lincoln Center in 2013) or crafting engaging secular arrangements for choir.
Beyond the concert hall, Hayes has conducted at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the National Cathedral, and his work extends into musical theater and film scoring. His arrangements are known for balancing accessibility with sophistication, making them equally at home in university choirs, community ensembles, and professional settings. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Hayes continues to prioritize music that serves performers and audiences alike, with particular strength in writing that showcases personality and ensemble joy.
Why we love this
This arrangement transforms a beloved classical march into a comedy sketch disguised as a choral piece. Hayes captures the theatrical energy perfectly: the humor lands because the music itself is playful and propulsive, the text hits with genuine wit rather than forced puns, and the orchestration swells at just the right moments to underscore the absurdity. Your choir will spend rehearsals laughing while building ensemble confidence and rhythmic precision.
What to expect
A holiday movie montage set to music: frantic, funny, and completely unapologetic about the chaos of seasonal preparation. The march propels everything forward with infectious energy while the humor keeps the whole piece feeling light and celebratory rather than precious or overwrought.
Who it's for
Choirs looking for a showstopper that audiences will remember and performers will enjoy rehearsing. This works especially well for groups comfortable with comedy and theatrical delivery; it demands personality and timing as much as vocal technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Commit fully to the comedic characters and exaggerated facial expressions; the handheld percussion and sound effects are meant to feel chaotic and deliberately over-the-top, so lean into that energy rather than trying to keep it controlled.
- Drill the rhythmic precision early, especially in the sections where text and percussion layer together, so that by performance date the chaos feels intentional rather than sloppy.
- Coordinate your soloists and percussion players in staging; even a few rehearsals dedicated to choreography or specific placement will amplify the theatrical impact without requiring elaborate staging.
- Highlight the melodic clarity of the march theme across voice parts; underneath all the comedy, Hayes's orchestration depends on that familiar tune cutting through cleanly.
How to use it
Place this as a second-half closer when you want to end on laughter and high spirits, or use it to open a concert if your program needs immediate ensemble energy and audience engagement. It pairs well with a more traditional holiday selection earlier in the program, creating nice emotional variety.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble synchronization in fast, articulated passages
- Comedy timing and text delivery with musical awareness
- Reading and responding to conductor cues during a complex, layered arrangement
- Confidence performing with theatrical personality and facial expression