I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (arr. John Leavitt): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Johnny Marks / Arranged by John Leavitt
Item: 35-PK00496040
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Description
This stellar version of the Christmas classic is a must-do holiday anthem. The perennial favorite has been updated complete with colorful choral effects, and the result is a luminous sonic experience that will leave the audience longing for more. Arranged with flexibility in mind, this piece can be performed unaccompanied or with either handchimes (handbells) or piano, or both! Score and Part for Handchimes (or Handbells), 3 oct., available as a digital download.¶°NOTE: See below for downloadable MP3 accompaniment tracks.¶00374739: Piano only¶00374740: Handchimes only¶00374741: Piano and Handchimes°
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00496040
More about this title
About the Composer: Johnny Marks
Johnny Marks composed some of the most enduring holiday standards of the 20th century, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Silver and Gold." His gift for melody combined accessibility with genuine emotional warmth, making his songs equally at home in popular culture and concert settings. Marks understood how to write music that resonates across generations without sacrificing musical substance.
For choral directors, Marks' work offers a rare blend: melodies that audiences recognize and love, paired with harmonic sophistication that challenges singers to produce mature, nuanced performances. His holiday compositions have become essential repertoire precisely because they elevate seasonal programming beyond novelty.
Why we love this
John Leavitt's arrangement transforms this beloved melody into something genuinely singable for mixed voices without losing the tune's emotional core. The four-page layout keeps the piece manageable for rehearsal and performance, while Leavitt's part writing distributes the melodic interest across the ensemble rather than burying it in the sopranos. Choirs consistently find this version strikes the right balance between accessibility and musical substance.
What to expect
Quiet contemplation with an undercurrent of hope. Leavitt's harmony gives the familiar melody room to breathe while suggesting deeper harmonic terrain than the tune alone provides. By the final statement, the piece settles into a place of acceptance and peace.
Who it's for
Any SATB ensemble looking for substantial holiday repertoire beyond the obvious. This works equally well for community choruses seeking material with emotional depth and for church choirs building a seasonal program that includes both accessibility and musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening phrases with a gentle arc; this melody benefits from long lines that breathe rather than stumbling through beat-by-beat.
- Balance the harmonic texture so inner voices support rather than compete with the soprano line; the beauty here depends on transparency.
- Let the text drive your interpretation. The mid-section reflection asks for a shift in tone and intensity before the final return.
- A light accompaniment (piano or small ensemble) allows the choir's own resonance to carry the weight of this arrangement.
How to use it
Pair this with instrumental carols or other reflective holiday pieces to create a thoughtful program that slows the pace and deepens the emotional arc of a winter concert. It also serves well as a closing selection where the text's message of resilience lands with particular impact.
Skills your students will build
- Singing long melodic phrases with consistent breath support
- Balancing part independence while serving the overall harmonic texture
- Shaping dynamics and phrasing to match textual meaning
- Blending in four-part harmony without sacrificing individual line clarity