Sing We Now Of Christmas (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement strips away unnecessary complexity while preserving the carol's essential character, making it accessible for developing choirs without sacrificing musical substance. The voice leading feels natural and singable, the harmonies support rather than overshadow the melody, and the six-page format fits neatly into a concert program without demanding extensive rehearsal time.

Warm and inviting, like gathering around a hearth. The melody carries a gentle joy that feels both joyful and reflective, never veering into saccharine territory.

Intermediate to advanced high school choirs, community ensembles, and college choirs seeking accessible holiday repertoire with genuine musical substance. This arrangement works equally well for singers with classical training and those with folk or contemporary backgrounds.

• Keep the tempo steady and unhurried. This carol benefits from space and breath rather than pushing forward.
• Balance the soprano line clearly against the supporting voices. The tune deserves to be heard without sopranos oversinging.
• Shape the phrases with gentle crescendos toward the natural peaks of the melody. Resist the impulse to stay at one dynamic throughout.
• Blend the harmony voices with attention to resonance in the vowels. A well-matched SATB section makes the whole arrangement sing.

Program this as an opener or closing number for a holiday concert to frame more ambitious works. It also works beautifully as an intermission piece or paired with other Shaw-arranged carols to showcase different facets of the holiday season.

• Singing in four-part harmony with distinct voice part independence
• Shaping legit vocal lines with appropriate breath placement
• Blending vowels across SATB section for harmonic resonance
• Reading and performing traditional hymn-style voicing
• Sustaining longer musical phrases with consistent support