Fa La La La La!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Billingsley transforms a beloved carol into something your singers will genuinely want to perform by layering Latin percussion and syncopation over the original harmonization. The addition of a new "Fa la la" refrain and strategic key change give this piece theatrical momentum, and the optional choreography (via the Movin' DVD) turns it into a full production number rather than a standalone carol.

Upbeat, infectious, and celebratory. The Latin groove gives the piece a dance-floor energy that still honors the carol's original grace, while the syncopation keeps singers engaged and audiences smiling. This is Christmas music that makes people want to move.

Choirs looking to program a Christmas number that moves beyond traditional carol treatment will find fresh life here. This works equally well for concert choirs wanting a showstopper, holiday assemblies needing visual and vocal impact, or community choirs eager to surprise their audience with a familiar tune transformed.

• Lock the syncopated rhythms in the vocal lines with the recorded accompaniment first; once singers feel the Latin groove, their phrasing will settle naturally.
• Highlight the new "Fa la la" refrain as a moment for dynamic contrast; bring energy here while keeping the original verse melody warm and connected.
• If you're adding choreography from the Movin' DVD, rehearse staging and singing separately before combining them. Blocking should enhance, not distract from, the harmonic texture.
• Use the key change near the final verse as a cue to lift the entire ensemble's energy and volume. This shift is your biggest dramatic moment.

Place this late in a holiday concert where your audience is warmed up and ready for something spirited. It pairs well with a more traditional carol earlier in the set, creating a conversation between classic and contemporary approaches to the same season. The optional choreography makes it an excellent closer that leaves audiences energized as they leave.

• Singing syncopated rhythms against steady harmonic support
• Maintaining harmonic integrity while executing rhythmic variation
• Responding to recorded accompaniment cues and tempo changes
• Coordinate singing with choreographed movement and staging
• Managing vocal energy through key modulation and dynamic shifts