Rockin' Holidays! Cover Image

Rockin' Holidays!: SSA Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD
$2.25 USD
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Rockin' Holidays! Cover Image
Rockin' Holidays!: SSA Choral Octavo

Rockin' Holidays!: SSA Choral Octavo

When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter * A Holly Jolly Christmas * Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Words and music by Johnny Marks / arr. Alan Billingsley

Item: 00-46955
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Description
This trio of Johnny Marks Christmastime favorites is the ultimate holiday medley. Alan Billingsley's rockin' arrangement captures the characteristic sounds of the '50s and '60s, right down to the instrumentation on the optional SoundTrax CD and SoundPax instrumental parts. A fast-paced (less than 3-minute) crowd pleaser!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rockin' Holidays!: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081536040
SKU: 00-46955

More about this title

About the Composer: Johnny Marks

Johnny Marks (1909-1985) composed some of the most enduring holiday standards of the twentieth century. His gift for memorable melody and his deep understanding of what makes a song stick in the listener's ear gave the world "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." Marks worked extensively in film and television, where his ability to craft instantly singable, emotionally direct music made him a go-to composer for holiday specials and seasonal media.

For music educators, Marks' catalog offers a rare advantage: songs that students already know and love, paired with melodies so strong that even first-time listeners recognize them immediately. This combination of familiarity and musicality makes his work invaluable for building student confidence and engagement in the choral classroom.

Why we love this

Alan Billingsley's arrangement channels authentic '50s and '60s pop energy without requiring a rock band or any of the logistical headaches that can come with contemporary-sounding arrangements. The optional instrumental parts and recorded accompaniment options give you flexibility to build exactly the sound your program needs, whether you're going fully acoustic or adding that period-specific instrumental texture.

What to expect

Vintage television special energy meets modern pop arrangement sensibility. The piece swings with the rhythmic ease of early rock and roll, built on melodies that audiences recognize before the first verse ends, creating an instant sense of celebration and familiarity.

Who it's for

Directors programming holiday concerts who want something that lands immediately with audiences and feels contemporary in energy rather than nostalgic in delivery. SSA choirs, especially those with limited tenor-bass resources, will find this arrangement gives them a sophisticated, radio-friendly sound.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the tempo brisk and the energy infectious. At under three minutes, this medley thrives on momentum, so resist any impulse to slow down or pull back emotionally.
  • Blend the SSA voicing clearly in rehearsal, paying particular attention to how the highest and lowest voices frame each phrase. The rock idiom benefits from tight unison and block harmony moments.
  • If you use the optional instrumental parts, schedule at least two rehearsals with the full ensemble and accompaniment. The recorded arrangement sets a specific groove that your singers need to lock into.

How to use it

Close your holiday concert with this medley as a standalone finale, or program it as the climactic moment of a longer holiday set where it can send audiences out energized and humming. Its tight runtime makes it ideal for holiday pops concerts where you're building momentum across multiple selections.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining energy and clarity in a fast-paced, groove-based arrangement
  • Balancing blend within SSA voicing while maintaining rhythmic precision
  • Interpreting mid-century pop style with appropriate articulation and phrasing
  • Singing with confidence in unison and block harmony sections

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