Sing We Now of Christmas (A Seasonal Fanfare): TTBB Choral Octavo

Althouse takes a well-loved carol and reimagines it as something genuinely festive and energetic—a fanfare arrangement that gives lower voices real material to sing rather than predictable harmonies. The optional brass and percussion parts let you scale the piece to your resources, while the structural contrast between the contrapuntal and homophonic sections keeps singers engaged and gives the choir something to shape musically.

A joyful, ceremonial opening that crackles with energy. The contrapuntal writing creates rhythmic complexity and forward motion, then the piece broadens into a majestic, anchored sound when all voices move together. It reads as confident and festive rather than quiet or reverent.

TTBB choirs looking for a Christmas piece with real harmonic substance and a modern arrangement sensibility. This works for community choruses, church choirs, and high school or college men's ensembles who want something more distinctive than standard carol fare.

• Bring clarity to the contrapuntal passage by having each voice part maintain its own line confidently. This section thrives when no part feels subordinate.
• Use the shift to the slower homophonic section to showcase blend and balance. The contrast will land harder if the ensemble sits together vocally in this moment.
• If you're adding brass quintet and snare drum, rehearse with the recorded accompaniment first to establish tempo and feel. Then work toward the live instrumentation.
• Keep the fanfare character bright and lifted throughout, even in the slower section. This is not introspective; it's celebratory.

Open a Christmas concert with this piece to set an energetic, contemporary tone. The fanfare arrangement pairs well alongside both traditional carols and modern seasonal works, and its 12-page length gives it substantial presence without overshadowing your full program.

• Singing independent melodic lines within a contrapuntal texture
• Blending voices across a four-part TTBB ensemble
• Contrasting articulation and phrasing between rhythmic and sustained passages
• Responding to optional brass and percussion parts with rhythmic precision