Medley Christmas: SATB Choral Octavo
Arr. Ron Howard
Item: 00-PO-0004522
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Medley Christmas combines the familiar songs 'Jingle Bells,' Deck the Halls' and 'Good King Wenceslas' in an interesting and surprising manner. At times the songs are used 'in toto' and occasionally only fragments are heard. The combining of familiar tunes in this manner is a device that has been used by composers through the ages, and is called a quodlibet. (Grade 3)
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0004522
More about this title
Why we love this
Ron Howard's quodlibet approach transforms three beloved carols into something that feels both recognizable and unpredictable. The interweaving of 'Jingle Bells,' 'Deck the Halls,' and 'Good King Wenceslas' rewards careful listening; singers will discover how fragments of one melody nestle against complete statements of another. This is the kind of arrangement that keeps audiences engaged and choirs intellectually invested, not just singing through familiar tunes on autopilot.
What to expect
Sophisticated and playful at once. The quodlibet creates moments of surprise where a familiar melody emerges from unexpected harmonic surroundings, or where two beloved tunes coexist in counterpoint. There's a sense of discovery woven through holiday warmth; audiences hear carols they know, but arranged in ways they've never encountered.
Who it's for
Intermediate choral directors seeking secular holiday material for Grade 3 choirs ready to handle layered textures and thematic complexity. This works equally well for high school ensembles, community choirs, and adult singers who appreciate musical cleverness alongside accessibility. Singers need competent part-reading skills and comfort with SATB voice independence.
How to get the most out of it
- Prepare singers to track which melody belongs to which section of the arrangement before rehearsing. Knowing when they're singing a complete carol versus contributing a single phrase sharpens ensemble clarity.
- Balance the three melodies carefully when they occur simultaneously; no single tune should dominate unless the score indicates otherwise. Blend is essential to maintaining the quodlibet's clever construction.
- Use the 12-page score to map out transitions between carol fragments and complete statements. Mark these shifts clearly so the choir understands the structural logic beneath the surface.
- Shape phrases according to the melody each voice is singing, not just the harmonic context. This honors the identity of each carol and prevents the arrangement from sounding homogenized.
How to use it
Ideal as the centerpiece of a holiday concert that emphasizes arrangements and musical innovation rather than straight carols. This also serves as a thoughtful second-half opener after more traditional yuletide selections, giving the audience permission to smile at the ingenuity. Consider pairing it with other quodlibet arrangements or thematic medleys to showcase how composers reinterpret familiar material.
Skills your students will build
- Tracking multiple independent melodic lines occurring simultaneously (melodic independence)
- Recognizing familiar tunes within new harmonic and textural contexts (thematic analysis)
- Balancing voice parts when traditional four-part harmony gives way to layered melodic fragments
- Understanding the quodlibet as a compositional device and its historical use across musical styles