Santa's on His Way Medley: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Gilpin's gift for weaving familiar melodies into a cohesive, high-energy arrangement shows throughout this medley. The addition of spoken word and rap sections gives singers real personality work to do, transforming three well-known carols into something that feels fresh and contemporary without losing their charm.

Bright, playful, and unapologetically fun. The medley has a bouncy 60s-pop heartbeat underneath the carols, and the speech choir moments add humor and swagger that makes it feel more like a holiday party than a formal concert. From the first note, the arrangement signals that the choir is here to entertain.

This works beautifully for choirs that want a crowd-pleasing holiday number with real energy. Young singers benefit from the accessible 2-part writing and the rhythmic challenges of the rap sections, while adult and community choirs will enjoy the contemporary style and the familiar melodies that audiences always recognize.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the speech choir/rap sections by having singers mark the beat while speaking; this locks them in and makes the 60s pop groove land harder.
• Balance the three song sections by recording a rough take early in rehearsal and listening together; you'll hear which melody needs more weight and where ensemble diction matters most.
• Layer the accompaniment recording gradually during early rehearsals so singers can lock into the pop groove before adding their own parts; pull it once they're confident.

This lands perfectly as the closer on a holiday concert, especially when you want to send the audience out smiling. It also serves as an excellent opener if you're leading with pop arrangements and want to establish an upbeat tone before shifting to more traditional fare.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop grooves with steady subdivision
• Clear diction and rhythmic articulation in spoken and rap passages
• Ensemble blend across three distinct melodic themes in one arrangement
• Stage presence and personality in pop-styled choral performance