Merry Christmas, Mozart Cover Image

Merry Christmas, Mozart: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$22.95 USD
$22.95 USD
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Merry Christmas, Mozart Cover Image
Merry Christmas, Mozart: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Merry Christmas, Mozart: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Arr. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-21697
$22.95
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Description
It's "the merry melodies and charming harmonies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart," cleverly strung together with lyrics from traditional Christmas carols. "Deck the Hall," "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," "Fum, Fum, Fum," and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" (to name a few) are set to some of Mozart's most famous themes. Humorous and classic. Don't miss this opportunity to teach some music history in your choral rehearsals. The fully orchestrated SoundTrax adds a professional quality.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081210902
SKU: 00-21697

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned the Distinguished Alumni award. His eight-year tenure as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher gave him deep insight into how choral music reaches classrooms and concert halls. He served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that period.

As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works in print across all levels, performed widely throughout English-speaking countries. He holds ASCAP membership and is a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his standard music compositions. Beyond original works, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored several classroom resources: Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. He co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse's gift for clever counterpoint and harmonic wit shines here; he weaves Mozart's melodies so seamlessly with familiar Christmas texts that singers genuinely smile while reading it. The novelty conceit never overshadows the musicality, making this an arrangement that entertains without sacrificing educational value. Programming this opens natural conversations about compositional devices, thematic development, and how a great melody transcends its original context.

What to expect

Charming and clever, this piece sparkles with Mozart's melodic gift wrapped in holiday warmth. Singers experience the satisfaction of performing recognizable carols infused with genuine compositional substance, creating a holiday concert moment that feels both joyful and musically substantial.

Who it's for

Choirs at the middle school through adult community level will enjoy the blend of Christmas familiarity and classical sophistication. Directors seeking repertoire that bridges choral standards with music history curriculum will find this arrangement particularly rewarding.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the text clarity with Mozart's charming harmonic language. Singers should articulate the carol lyrics crisply while letting the familiar melodic contours emerge from the texture.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in tempos and harmonic progressions, especially where Mozart's themes shift between voice parts.
  • Layer in character and playfulness during rehearsals. This piece invites personality without becoming frivolous; encourage singers to find the humor in the juxtapositions without winking at the audience.

How to use it

Open a holiday concert with this piece to set a sophisticated yet accessible tone. It pairs well with both traditional carols and contemporary Christmas repertoire, and works particularly effectively when programmed to highlight a season's study of classical composers or music history.

Skills your students will build

  • Recognizing and tracking thematic material across voice parts
  • Balancing familiar melodic lines with sophisticated harmonic accompaniment
  • Interpreting character and style in arrangements of familiar melodies
  • Understanding how composers recontextualize existing material

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