Sing We Now of Christmas: Choral Instrumental Pak

Robert Sterling's take on this familiar tune strips away sentimentality and replaces it with propulsive energy, giving advanced groups a holiday number that sounds nothing like their audience expects. The swing setting and jazz voicings demand real musicianship from your ensemble while delivering genuine entertainment value that energizes winter concerts.

Sophisticated and buoyant. The arrangement captures what happens when centuries-old melody meets modern jazz language: playful, rhythmically sophisticated, and never sentimental. Your audience will hear the carol they know filtered through a cool, swinging sensibility that feels fresh without abandoning the source.

Advanced jazz choirs and pop ensembles ready for contemporary holiday arrangements. Groups comfortable with swing vocabulary and able to execute quick ensemble entrances will thrive with this material.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass and drums) into a tight swing pocket first, then layer the vocal and horn lines on top of that foundation
• Articulate the syncopations in the melody crisply; the fast tempo will expose imprecise attacks
• Balance the jazz harmonies so the harmonic color reads without overwhelming the text; clarity matters even at this brisk pace

Close out your winter concert with this crowd-pleaser after deeper or more traditional holiday selections. Its high energy and stylistic distinction make it an ideal anchor piece that leaves the hall in an upbeat mood while showcasing your ensemble's contemporary choral jazz credentials.

• Singing and playing in swing style with proper articulation and feel
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms at faster tempos
• Voicing jazz harmonies and understanding contemporary harmonic color
• Balancing ensemble blend in a mixed jazz/pop texture