Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse knows exactly what developing choirs need: a piece that builds confidence without sacrificing musical interest. The Latin-multicultural fusion gives students a genuine cultural experience during the holiday season rather than another treacly standard, and the recorded accompaniment removes the barrier of finding an accompanist while letting your singers focus on learning their parts securely.

Bright, energetic, and inviting. The piece captures the joy of bilingual celebration with rhythmic vitality that keeps both performers and audiences engaged without requiring advanced vocal technique.

Developing choirs seeking meaningful seasonal repertoire that engages both their musicianship and cultural awareness. It works equally well for middle school ensembles gaining confidence in part-singing and high school groups wanting a fun, accessible break from more serious winter concert fare.

• Establish the rhythmic groove early in rehearsals by isolating the Latin percussion patterns before layering in vocal lines; this ensures your singers feel anchored rather than fighting against the accompaniment.
• Balance the bilingual text thoughtfully so both languages carry equal weight and clarity; mark trouble spots where students tend to rush the Spanish or slouch the English.
• Let the SoundTrax CD inform your sectional work, but rehearse a cappella periodically so singers develop independence and don't become dependent on the recorded cues.

Position this on your holiday concert as a strategic palate cleanser between more formal or reverent selections. It works especially well in a second half designed to build audience energy, or as an encore that sends people home smiling.

• Singing in two languages with authentic rhythmic phrasing
• Responding to Latin percussion patterns and syncopated accompaniment
• Balancing cultural authenticity with choral blend
• Building ensemble confidence through a rhythmically driven, accessible arrangement