Hear the Bells Ring!: Choral SoundTrax CD

Gilpin has a gift for writing Christmas music that swings without losing its charm. The playful "ding-a dings" and bright vocal writing give singers something genuinely fun to perform, while the fanfare structure makes it an immediate crowd-pleaser whether you open or close your concert with it. The PerformancePlus+ access means your choir gets part-predominant tracks and assessment tools built right in, reducing your prep load considerably.

Hear the Bells Ring! combines the sparkle and immediacy of a Christmas fanfare with the playful energy of a jingle. It's festive without being precious, fun without veering into novelty; the vocal writing bounces along in a way that makes singers smile while performing and audiences lean in to listen.

Choirs at intermediate skill levels looking for a Christmas opener or closer that feels fresh and doesn't require extensive rehearsal time. Directors seeking secular holiday repertoire that works across diverse programs will find the bright, energetic character immediately programmable.

• Lean into the rhythmic bounce of the vocal line. The buoyant quality comes from crisp articulation and forward momentum rather than overdoing dynamics; let the natural lift of the melody do the work.
• Balance the sung "ding-a dings" against the accompaniment so they register clearly without overwhelming the harmonic texture. These playful moments are the heart of the piece.
• Use the part-predominant tracks in rehearsal to lock ensemble unison passages before moving to full harmony work. Gilpin's writing is accessible, but precision in the rhythmic figures pays dividends.
• If performing without accompaniment on your concert, record and play back a rehearsal run to check that all sections are landing the text simultaneously, especially in the fanfare sections.

This piece excels as a concert opener that sets a joyful tone immediately, though its fanfare construction works equally well as a closer that sends audiences out smiling. If you're programming a traditional holiday concert with carols and seasonal pieces, position this one strategically to provide contrast through its contemporary rhythmic energy and playful character.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
• Balancing melody with rhythmic spoken or sung text
• Ensemble blend in brief, sectional passages
• Sustaining bright tone quality at moderate tempos