The Christmas Clock (with Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers) (arr. Cristi Cary Miller): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Miller captures the whimsy and motion of both tunes without letting either one overwhelm the other. The 2-part voicing keeps the writing clear and rhythmically energetic, which means your singers stay engaged rather than getting lost in needless complexity.

The Clock ticks forward with quiet certainty while wooden soldiers march through the accompaniment. There is movement and logic here, almost mechanical, yet tinged with charm and holiday warmth. It feels both precise and playful.

Directors seeking a secular Christmas piece that stands apart from the standard fare. The pairing of these two themes offers novelty without being gimmicky, making it suitable for concert programs at schools, community groups, and community choirs that want something with character.

• Balance the two melodies carefully during the combined sections. The "Parade" theme should not overshadow "The Christmas Clock," even though it naturally sits in a higher register.
• Lean into the rhythmic vitality of the "Parade" material. This isn't background wallpaper; the mechanical, marching quality is part of what makes the pairing work.
• Treat the interlocking of themes as a moment of genuine conversation between the two parts rather than a stacked harmonic effect. Encourage clarity and independence.

Position this as your show-stopper in the lighter half of a Christmas concert. Its moderate length and 2-part scoring give you flexibility to pair it with a contrasting ballad or Christmas carol, or to feature it as a standalone moment of character and humor.

• Tracking two distinct melodic lines simultaneously
• Maintaining rhythmic independence while blending with a partner voice
• Shaping phrased material that contains both legit singing and rhythmic precision
• Identifying and performing thematic material across different instrumental and vocal contexts