I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (arr. Rick Hein): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Rick Hein's arrangement captures the playful innocence of this beloved holiday standard while keeping the vocal writing accessible for developing singers. The 2-part voicing preserves the song's charm without sacrificing musicality, making it ideal for choirs looking to program something audiences genuinely love without complicated part-writing.

Lighthearted and nostalgic, with a wink to the audience. The piece has the quality of overhearing a child's excited discovery, complete with the delight of sharing something wonderful that's technically a secret.

Any choir seeking accessible holiday repertoire that connects with audiences. This works equally well for middle school programs introducing ensemble singing, high school choirs wanting a fun holiday concert moment, or community ensembles building their seasonal programming.

• Lean into the conspiratorial energy of the narrator. This song works best when singers treat it as a delightful secret they're sharing with the audience rather than performing it straight.
• Balance the two parts so neither overwhelms the other, especially during moments where the parts move independently. A 2-part texture needs both voices equally present.
• The harmonic simplicity here is a feature, not a limitation. Use it to focus on diction clarity and character work instead.

Open a holiday concert with this piece to establish an engaging, audience-friendly atmosphere before transitioning into more formal seasonal repertoire. Its familiarity and accessibility make it perfect for drawing in audiences who might not regularly attend choir concerts.

• Singing with character and expression in a secular choral context
• Blending and balancing in 2-part texture
• Clear diction in a rhythmically simple, syllabic arrangement
• Understanding how familiar melodies can be recontextualized through arrangement