Sing We Now of Christmas: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse brings his gift for melodic accessibility and clear voicing to this timeless carol. The arrangement honors the familiar tune while adding warmth and dimension, making it equally effective with developing choirs and experienced singers. The SoundTrax CD accompaniment gives you flexibility in rehearsal and performance, whether you're building independence or adding polish to a holiday concert.

There is a gentle devotion here, the kind that invites listeners into quiet reflection. The harmonization feels both familiar and fresh, anchoring the beloved melody with warmth while allowing space for each voice to shine.

This octavo works for mixed choirs at intermediate levels and above. Whether your singers are preparing a holiday concert, seeking a reverent contribution to a Lessons and Carols service, or building choral confidence around a well-known melody, this arrangement offers musical depth without overwhelming technical demands.

• Shape the phrase endings with slight ritardandi to honor the carol's meditative quality; avoid rigid adherence to tempo that flattens the musical line.
• Balance the harmonic textures by having singers listen across voice parts during rehearsal; this builds awareness of how individual lines support the whole.
• Reference the recorded accompaniment in early rehearsals to establish the harmonic framework, then gradually encourage singers to internalize and shape independently.
• Pay attention to vowel unity in unison or near-unison sections; small adjustments create radiance without sacrificing blend.

Program this as a centerpiece in a December concert or holiday service where you want a carol that balances accessibility with musical substance. It pairs naturally with instrumental offerings or other sacred works, and its moderate length makes it ideal for a program's meditative middle section.

• Singing four-part harmony with harmonic awareness
• Sustaining legato lines while maintaining blend
• Following recorded accompaniment to develop independent ensemble listening
• Shaping phrases with text-appropriate expression and pacing