March of the Kings: SATB Choral Octavo
Traditional French Carol / arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PO-0006552
$2.95
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This triumphant arrangement by Mark Hayes is exciting from start to finish. Its full marcato singing has a remarkable impact in performance, and the addition of Mark's optional SoundPax instrumental parts or SoundTrax CD raises the bar for seasonal concert features. Dramatic "ahs" symbolize the arrival of royalty, and the high range descant evokes images of an angelic chorus above. SoundPax includes parts for fl./picc., ob., cl., 2 tpt., Fr. horn, tbn., bs. tbn., perc.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0006552
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has built an extraordinary career as a composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist, with over 1,750 published works spanning sacred music, choral literature, orchestrations, and solo piano repertoire. His work has been featured at major venues including Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, and he received his Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude in Piano Performance from Baylor University in 1975. Baylor honored him in 2010 with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music, recognizing his sustained contributions to the field.
Hayes has conducted world premieres of his own works across the globe, including his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and again at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome as part of the Vatican-sponsored Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra. Beyond concert music, he has composed for musical theater and film, orchestrated professional productions, and worked as a record producer. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Hayes continues to compose with particular devotion to piano literature, maintaining over 100 piano books in print alongside his extensive choral and orchestral catalog.
Why we love this
Hayes's orchestration and choral writing never sacrifice musicality for accessibility. The marcato articulation creates visceral, unified energy across all four voice parts, while the optional descant and strategic dramatic moments (those arresting "ahs") give your singers genuine theatrical material to sink their teeth into. You can present this with just voices, or layer in the optional SoundPax instrumental parts or recorded accompaniment to create a full festival-quality arrangement that doesn't require a pit band.
What to expect
Regal and joyful, with an infectious forward momentum driven by the marcato style. The piece swells with festive authority when full voices arrive, then opens into ethereal space when the descant enters, evoking the majesty of ceremony and the wonder of an angelic visitation.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking a high-impact seasonal feature for Christmas or Epiphany concerts will find immediate impact here. The arrangement sits well for intermediate to advanced SATB ensembles and works equally in church, concert hall, or festival contexts.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate the marcato articulation in sectional rehearsals. Mark's style demands precision and uniformity across SATB; even small inconsistencies in attack and release will muddy the effect.
- Treat the descant as a true soprano soloists' moment rather than a tutti line. The contrast between the full-choir marcato and the angelic upper voices depends on restraint and clarity from your soprano section.
- If using the SoundPax or recorded accompaniment, rehearse without it first to build independence and confidence in your own tuning and phrasing.
- Shape the dramatic "ahs" with dynamic intention. These moments are theatrical gestures meant to punctuate the text and create visual drama, not just filler between phrases.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a Christmas or Epiphany concert, where its dramatic arch and optional instrumental reinforcement will anchor your set list. It pairs well before or after quieter reflective pieces, as the robust energy and theatrical moments create strong contrast and give audiences a moment of genuine celebration.
Skills your students will build
- Unified marcato articulation and rhythmic precision across four voice parts
- Soprano descant independence and lyrical shaping within a rhythmic context
- Balance and blend between tutti sections and optional instrumental accompaniment
- Dynamic control and theatrical phrasing for dramatic moments (the "ahs")