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Deck the Hall and Swing It: Choral SoundPax

$15.00 USD
$15.00 USD
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Deck the Hall and Swing It Cover Image
Deck the Hall and Swing It: Choral SoundPax

Deck the Hall and Swing It: Choral SoundPax

Traditional Welsh Carol / arr., with new music, by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-48353
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Description
Crisp and cool as a peppermint stick, this re-imagined carol is refreshing in every way. From the light swing rhythms of the familiar melody to a jazz fantasia of "Fa la la's" in counterpoint, it's just the right blend of familiar, fun, and festive! A rhythm section SoundTrax is available.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Deck the Hall and Swing It: Choral SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081551760
SKU: 00-48353

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Distinguished Alumni award. His eight-year tenure as a rights and licenses administrator at a major educational music publisher gave him insight into what works in choral repertoire, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that time.

As a composer, Althouse has published more than 800 choral works performed across the English-speaking world. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, co-authored The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and written classroom resources including Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. His choral work I Hear America Singing, also co-written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009.

Why we love this

Althouse captures the essence of what makes a holiday arrangement work for singers and audiences alike: the melody remains instantly recognizable, but the jazz treatment gives it unexpected personality. The counterpoint section with "Fa la la's" transforms a familiar phrase into something singers will actually want to rehearse, and the light swing feel keeps energy high without demanding excessive technical virtuosity.

What to expect

Picture the brightness of peppermint and the ease of a winter breeze. The melody floats naturally over light swing rhythms, never heavy or strained, and when the "Fa la la's" enter in counterpoint, the arrangement sparkles with playful energy and unexpected harmonic interest. It feels both deeply familiar and refreshingly modern.

Who it's for

Directors seeking a fresh Christmas number that works for mixed choirs at any level. The swing style and counterpoint writing appeal to singers who enjoy contemporary jazz elements, while the familiar melody makes it accessible to singers new to jazz interpretation.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the rhythm section SoundTrax lock the tempo and groove during rehearsals. This arrangement relies on crisp articulation in the swing style, and hearing the accompaniment early helps singers internalize the rhythmic feel before performance.
  • Shape the "Fa la la" counterpoint section with clarity of line. Each voice part needs independence so the jazz harmony doesn't muddy; think orchestral clarity rather than blended block chords.
  • Find the balance between swing interpretation and choral blend. The familiar melody should swing naturally without anyone pushing the rhythm or dragging behind the beat.
  • Layer this into full run-throughs no more than two weeks before performance. The arrangement is accessible enough that focused, efficient rehearsals will serve you better than early, scattered sectional work.

How to use it

Slot this mid-program when you want to shift the mood from reverent to celebratory, or use it as a bridge between traditional and contemporary holiday selections. The 12-page length and straightforward rehearsal requirements make it ideal for holiday concerts scheduled within 3-4 weeks of first rehearsal.

Skills your students will build

  • Jazz swing articulation and rhythmic phrasing
  • Independent line singing within contrapuntal texture
  • Listening to and blending with a full rhythm section
  • Balancing energetic interpretation with choral blend
  • Contemporary jazz harmony recognition and intonation

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