Rudolph On The Housetop: SAB Choral Octavo
Rudolph On The Housetop Sheet Music Preview

Rudolph On The Housetop: SAB Choral Octavo

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Item: 35-DS00464901
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$2.99
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 10
SKU: 35-DS00464901

More about this title

About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw stands among the most prolific arrangers in choral music, with over 2500 works in print that have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. His influence extends across five continents through residencies, clinics, and commissions; he holds degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Shaw founded and directed the celebrated COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous and has since led innovative vocal programs at Colorado State University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and Southern Oregon University.

Beyond his work as an educator and composer, Shaw brings a distinctive blend of humor and musicianship to everything he creates. He has studied directly with jazz legends including Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks, and remains an active performer with the a cappella group Just 4 Kicks. His creative output has earned multiple ASCAP awards, and his arrangements consistently find their way into school concerts, community festivals, and festival adjudication across the country.

Why we love this

Shaw's arrangement captures the infectious, playful spirit of these two holiday favorites while keeping the vocal ranges comfortable for developing singers. The SAB voicing eliminates the technical barriers that often plague Christmas programming, making it possible to include this crowd-pleasing material without sacrificing musicality or choir morale. His signature wit and accessibility shine through; this is the kind of arrangement that feels fresh in rehearsal while delivering guaranteed audience warmth.

What to expect

Bright, playful, and entirely unpretentious. These are songs people carry in their hearts, and Shaw's arrangement honors that familiarity while adding modern harmonic color and rhythmic vitality. Singing this feels like being part of a celebration rather than a formal performance.

Who it's for

Any choir seeking holiday repertoire that combines instant recognition with vocal accessibility. This works equally well for middle school ensembles building their holiday program, community choirs wanting contemporary treatment of familiar material, or high school groups looking for a reliable crowd pleaser that doesn't require advanced musicianship to sound great.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the rhythmic energy bouncing lightly rather than pushing hard; these melodies gain charm from a nearly conversational delivery
  • Balance the parts so sopranos and altos blend equally in the harmonic moments, resisting the urge to let either voice dominate
  • Articulate the text clearly in the rhythmic passages to maintain definition and comedic timing when singing together
  • Shape phrases toward the lyrical moments and pull back slightly during the more rhythmic sections for natural contrast

How to use it

Slot this into your holiday concert's first half to establish a joyful mood and build audience connection early. The piece works beautifully as a palate cleanser between more formal seasonal selections, or program it as part of a contemporary pop holiday medley that shows off your choir's range beyond traditional carols.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing SAB voicing while maintaining independent part awareness
  • Reading and executing rhythmic figures that sit comfortably in pop idiom
  • Shaping phrase lines with natural dynamics across distinct musical sections
  • Coordinating articulation and text projection in rhythmically driven material

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