Goldfish Christmas: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Billingsley and his collaborator Scott have written a holiday piece that sidesteps the usual earnestness of seasonal fare. The title itself signals something playful and unexpected, and the 2-part voicing makes it genuinely singable for mixed-ability choirs without sacrificing musical substance. This is the kind of arrangement that gives your students permission to have fun in December while still developing their musicianship.

Lighthearted and unexpected. The piece has the bounce and charm of novelty music that doesn't wink quite so hard at the audience. There's real harmonic content underneath the whimsy, so it engages singers intellectually even as it delights them emotionally.

Directors seeking a 2-part holiday selection that entertains both performers and audiences. This works well for middle school through early high school choirs, or any ensemble wanting a break from traditional Christmas fare without abandoning the season entirely.

• Clarify the rhythmic relationship between the two parts early in rehearsal; lock this in before worrying about blend or intonation.
• Find the humor in the text and musical setting. This piece will sound best when singers understand they're in on the joke.
• Balance the parts so that whichever line carries the primary melody stays forward without drowning out harmonic support.

Position this as a palate cleanser in a holiday concert, perhaps between two traditional selections or as a closer to send the audience out with a smile. Its compact five pages make it efficient for programs that need flexibility, and the accessible voicing means you can add it to an already-prepared set without major rehearsal investment.

• Ensemble balance between two independent lines
• Rhythmic precision in a contemporary style
• Musical expression and character interpretation
• Two-part singing independence and blend