Holly Holy (from A Beautiful Noise) (arr. Mac Huff): SAB Choral Octavo

Mac Huff's SAB setting captures the emotional warmth of this Broadway number while keeping the voicing accessible for mixed choirs at the developing level. The arrangement honors Diamond's original without demanding extensive soprano range, making it realistic for high school and community choirs who want genuine, contemporary repertoire with heart.

There's a quiet reverence to this piece, a quality of reflection and recognition. The pop sensibility keeps it from feeling overly sentimental, instead landing in that space where sincerity and genuine emotion feel earned rather than performed.

This arrangement suits mixed choirs at the high school and community level who want to perform contemporary Broadway repertoire. Directors seeking material that balances accessibility with emotional authenticity will find this a strong choice for concerts mixing classic and modern repertoire.

• Balance the three voices so the melody sits naturally in whichever part carries it; resist the urge to let altos or basses overshadow the primary line.
• Find the legit quality in the pop style; this song needs legit vocal production even though it lives in the Broadway/pop world.
• Shape the phrases through breath and dynamic contour rather than relying on tempo shifts; let the text and harmonic movement drive the storytelling.

Pair this with other Neil Diamond material or other Broadway selections for a concert exploring contemporary musical theater. It also works effectively as a standalone closer for a concert program where you want to leave the audience with something memorable and emotionally present rather than technically flashy.

• Singing pop and Broadway idioms with legit vocal technique
• Balancing three independent lines while maintaining phrase cohesion
• Using text and harmonic progression to shape phrasing
• Sustaining emotional connection through a slower, introspective tempo