It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0006736
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
We're all familiar with the traditional melodies of the holiday season. A very special group of more contemporary works has also become an important part of our heritage, and this upbeat and inspiring piece is a beautiful example. Jay Althouse presents a very singable treatment of this holiday classic.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0006736
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni. His eight-year tenure in music publishing as a rights and licenses administrator gave him deep insight into the educational choral repertoire landscape, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that time.
Althouse has composed more than 800 choral works for ensembles at every level, with his music performed extensively throughout the English-speaking world. He holds membership in ASCAP and has received their Special Award multiple times. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled widely-used vocal solo collections, authored classroom resources including Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios, and co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. He resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse brings his signature gift for singable, accessible voicing to a song that already carries enormous popular goodwill. The arrangement respects the familiar melody while adding just enough contemporary choral polish to make it feel fresh in concert. For directors programming holiday pops, this delivers an instant crowd favorite without sacrificing musical integrity.
What to expect
Warm, nostalgic, and genuinely optimistic. The piece captures what made the original recording timeless: a sense of genuine wonder and the comfort of tradition, wrapped in a contemporary harmonic language that feels both familiar and slightly refined.
Who it's for
Choirs at the intermediate level and above will find this accessible without being patronizing. The 2-part voicing opens the door for mixed ensembles managing limited rehearsal time or singers with varying ranges, while the straightforward arrangement lets groups focus on blend and interpretation rather than technical challenges.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody with gentle dynamic swells rather than driving straight through; the familiarity of the tune invites singers to play with its contour and let each phrase breathe naturally.
- Balance the two parts carefully so neither voice dominates; both lines carry material worth hearing, and equal blend creates the lush, warm sound the arrangement deserves.
- Maintain steady articulation throughout to keep the piece feeling contemporary and upbeat; this isn't a ballad, even though it's introspective in character.
How to use it
This works beautifully as an emotional centerpiece in a holiday pop concert, positioned where it can shift the mood from purely energetic pieces into something more reflective. It also pairs well with other secular holiday standards, creating a "classics we love" segment that audiences instantly connect with.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with sustained legato phrasing while maintaining rhythmic precision
- Balancing two independent choral lines with equal prominence
- Interpreting familiar melodies expressively rather than mechanically