Sending You a Little Christmas: SSA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the intimacy of a piano ballad while giving SSA voices breathing room to shine, making this accessible for treble choirs without sacrificing emotional depth. The text itself works beautifully for holiday programs that want to move beyond traditional sacred carols into more contemporary, inclusive territory. Singers connect immediately to the message of connection across distance, and audiences respond to both the warmth of the melody and the genuine sentiment in the lyrics.

The arrangement unfolds like opening a carefully wrapped package from someone far away, starting gently and building warmth as the text deepens. There's a genuine tenderness here, neither overly sentimental nor sparse, that invites singers to inhabit the emotional landscape of reaching across distance to say 'I'm thinking of you.'

This piece works well for SSA choirs at intermediate levels and above, including treble sections of larger mixed choirs. It suits groups preparing holiday concerts, winter assemblies, or any program seeking contemporary seasonal music that appeals to general audiences without requiring religious context.

• Shape the opening phrases with careful attention to breath placement; the sustained vocal lines benefit from singers staggering breaths naturally rather than all breathing at marked rest points.
• Balance the three parts so no single voice dominates; SSA voicing can easily tip toward soprano-heavy, so remind alto and second soprano singers they're not padding the harmony but carrying essential melodic content.
• Work the recorded accompaniment into rehearsals early so singers can internalize phrasing and rubato choices without having to depend on the piano part they see on the page.
• Explore dynamics as an emotional tool rather than a technical marking; the climb toward the message 'wrapped up with love' needs genuine crescendo from the ensemble, not just louder singing.

Program this as a bridge between traditional holiday repertoire and modern seasonal music, or use it as an emotional centerpiece in a concert that otherwise leans toward upbeat selections. It pairs naturally with other contemporary pop arrangements and gives concerts that balance of intimate moments and fuller celebrations. Consider featuring it early in a holiday show when audiences are settling in, since its reflective quality sets a welcoming tone.

• Singing sustained legit phrases without breath tension
• Blending three distinct SSA parts while maintaining clear part identity
• Interpreting lyrical content to inform phrasing and dynamic shape
• Following a recorded accompaniment with flexibility for rubato and slight tempo variation
• Building choral balance in contemporary pop/ballad style