Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers (arr. Greg Gilpin): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Gilpin's arrangement captures the buoyancy of this perennial favorite without sacrificing musicianship. The 2-part voicing opens this charming march to younger or developing choirs while maintaining enough harmonic interest to keep mature ensembles engaged, and his setting feels fresh rather than overly simplified.

Imagine tin soldiers marching in perfect formation across a toy shop floor, all playful pomp and purposeful motion. There's a lightness here, almost cartoonish in its charm, yet the march carries genuine musical backbone. It invites audiences to smile without winking.

Choirs at the developing level (grades 3-6 or early middle school) will find this arrangement within reach, while treble or mixed 2-part ensembles can use it as a crowd-pleasing holiday concert selection. It's also a smart choice for community or adult choirs seeking approachable seasonal repertoire with character.

• Emphasize the rhythmic precision in the ensemble; the "parade" character depends on the brass band accompaniment and voices locking together with confidence and energy.
• Balance text clarity with forward motion. This piece wants to stride ahead, so avoid dragging individual syllables even while keeping diction crisp.
• Let the two parts shine equally. Since the voicing is relatively straightforward, use this as an opportunity to build ensemble blend and intonation habits that transfer to more complex music.

Open or close a holiday concert with this number to set a festive, energetic tone that contrasts nicely with reverent Christmas settings. The relatively quick preparation time makes it ideal for adding to a December program midseason or for smaller ensembles looking to contribute to a larger festival concert.

• Rhythmic precision in ensemble contexts
• Diction clarity at tempo
• Two-part blend and balance
• Conducting independence (following a conductor while maintaining ensemble cohesion)
• Understanding of march and parade style conventions