Ready, Set, Christmas!: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$2.05 USD

Ready, Set, Christmas!: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Ready, Set, Christmas!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-19192
Price: 2.05 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Jay Althouse / arr. Steve Herold

Item: 00-19192

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Are you ready for some holiday spirit? This fun, catchy holiday piece will put everyone in the Christmas mood! And when your singers pull out their kazoos, well, we can't predict what might happen! The 4-measure kazoo part can be played on any band or string instrument-parts for EVERY band or string instrument are included so young instrumentalists can join in the holiday cheer. Plus, the bouncy, Broadway, 2-beat style makes it perfect as a concert opener or as a concert theme. P.S.: the SoundTrax CD is fantastic!

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081178370

SKU: 00-19192

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. His career spans both the publishing industry, where he spent eight years managing rights and licenses and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America, and prolific composition. He has written more than 800 choral works performed regularly across the English-speaking world and holds ASCAP membership with multiple Special Awards recognizing his contributions to standard music.

Beyond composing, Althouse has shaped music education through collaborative projects and instructional resources. He co-created children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, edited vocal solo collections, and authored classroom materials including Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. His choral work I Hear America Singing, co-written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he has contributed to the Folk Art Society of America and the North Carolina Master Chorale.

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Why we love this

The Broadway-style energy and built-in flexibility make this a natural fit for holiday programming that works equally well as a concert opener or running theme. Althouse's gift for writing singable melodies shines here, and the optional instrumental doubling means your band and string students get genuine participation rather than sitting out the holiday concert entirely.

What to expect

Bright, infectious, and unapologetically theatrical. The Broadway style propels the piece forward with a rhythmic bounce that feels contemporary rather than nostalgic, and the optional kazoo and instrument parts add playful orchestration that keeps the arrangement from feeling thin or spare.

Who it's for

This piece works for any 2-part choir, particularly middle school through high school ensembles looking for accessible holiday repertoire with built-in energy. It's equally valuable in church choirs, community ensembles, and educational settings where combining singers with young band and string players creates an intergenerational ensemble moment.

How to get the most out of it

Lock in the 2-beat Broadway feel by keeping the subdivision steady; letting the rhythm drag will lose the piece's momentum and charm.
Have your singers mark the breath points clearly during early rehearsals so the bouncy phrasing stays crisp and doesn't accidentally shift into a dragging half-time feel.
If using the SoundTrax accompaniment, rehearse with it from the start so your singers anchor to its energy rather than working to match tempo later.

How to use it

Open your holiday concert with this to set a celebratory tone immediately, or use it as a recurring theme that frames the program. The short length and flexible instrumentation make it ideal for a concert finale too, especially if you want instrumentalists and singers sharing the stage together.