Sleigh Ride (arr. Mark Brymer): SSA Choral Octavo

Brymer's version captures the infectious energy of the original without overwhelming SSA ensembles with unnecessary complexity. The arrangement preserves what makes this tune irresistible while creating clear, singable lines that let your singers feel like they're genuinely swinging.

Bright, propulsive, and playful. There's genuine swing in this arrangement; it sparkles with the kind of effortless joy that makes holiday concerts feel like celebrations rather than recitations. Your singers will find themselves naturally wanting to move.

SSA and SSAA choirs seeking holiday repertoire with contemporary energy and jazz flavor. This works equally well for high school ensembles, community groups, and college lower divisions who want something seasonal but musically substantial.

• Maintain rhythmic vitality in the jazz swing feel; even in slower passages, the underlying pulse should have forward momentum and lightness.
• Balance the soprano melody against the supporting voices so the tune remains recognizable without the sopranos oversinging.
• Articulate rhythmic figures crisply to emphasize the jazz style and prevent the piece from dragging into pure legit singing.

Place this in the second half of a holiday concert to shift the mood from reverent to festive. It pairs effectively with more traditional carols and creates an accessible bridge into jazz or contemporary styles for audiences unfamiliar with those sounds.

• Swing rhythm and jazz articulation
• Balancing melodic and supporting vocal lines
• Phrasing with forward momentum in a contemporary idiom
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated passages