Sing We Now of Christmas: TTBB Choral Octavo

Hayes captures the carol's jubilant spirit while giving each voice line genuine musicality and independence. The orchestration options (recorded accompaniment or chamber parts) mean you can scale the arrangement to fit your resources, whether you're in a concert hall with a full ensemble or a church with just a piano.

Celebratory and richly harmonic, with the energy of a traditional French carol but the sophistication of a concert piece. The orchestral color (whether recorded or played live) elevates the work beyond a standard choir arrangement, creating a moment of genuine festivity.

TTBB choirs looking for a substantial holiday showpiece that demands musicality from every voice part, not just the tenors. Directors who want their male singers engaged in a carol arrangement that respects their range and artistry.

• Balance the inner voices (second tenor and baritone) carefully so the harmonic movement Hayes writes stays clear; the dynamic choral parts can easily bury these lines if the ensemble doesn't listen internally.
• Shape the phrasing dynamically to match the energy of the text rather than treating each section as a steady block; the exuberance comes from forward motion and strategic breath points.
• If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse independently first so the choir owns the interpretation, then lock in with the track while preserving ensemble responsiveness.
• Work the piano accompaniment (or chamber parts, if available) in rehearsal alongside the choir; the interplay between voices and accompaniment is what makes this arrangement distinctive.

Close your holiday concert with this as a finale that leaves audiences satisfied and energized. It works equally well in a church service context where you want to honor the carol's sacred tradition while showcasing your ensemble's vocal range and ensemble blend.

• Blending and balance in four-part male voicing (TTBB)
• Shaping lyrical phrasing at a larger, concert-level dynamic range
• Reading and responding to the piano or orchestral accompaniment
• Sustaining energy and tone through repeated harmonic patterns