The Holiday Season: SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes has transformed Thompson's accessible melody into an arrangement that respects the song's pop sensibility while giving your choir genuine show-stopping moments. The theatrical energy combined with manageable vocal ranges makes this an excellent choice for holiday concerts that need to feel contemporary and polished without overwhelming younger or less experienced singers.

This is sophisticated pop wrapped in holiday spirit. The arrangement channels classic Hollywood energy with its full instrumental backing and flashy piano writing, creating a sound that feels both celebratory and distinctly modern. It swings with ease and lands with genuine star quality.

This octavo works for choirs that can handle pop repertoire with confidence and control. It suits experienced high school ensembles, college choirs, and strong community or church choirs looking for a holiday selection with genuine contemporary appeal and theatrical flair.

• Balance the choir parts against the instrumental accompaniment so the vocal blend remains clear; the arrangement is lush enough that lazy singing will disappear into the background.
• Work the rhythmic precision carefully in sections with syncopation, especially where the parts diverge from homophonic textures, so the "swing" feeling lands without sounding rushed.
• Shape the dynamic arc through the full 12-page score; this arrangement builds deliberately, and singers need to understand the trajectory to avoid peaking too early.
• If using the instrumental parts, ensure your accompaniment musicians have rehearsal time with the choir to lock the rhythmic pocket that gives this arrangement its Hollywood polish.

Place this as a centerpiece in your holiday concert, ideally performed with the full instrumental accompaniment for maximum impact. It pairs well alongside more traditional choral selections, offering audiences a stylistic contrast that showcases your choir's range and contemporary musicianship.

• Singing pop-inflected phrasing and rhythmic articulation
• Balancing four-part harmony against instrumental accompaniment
• Managing syncopated rhythmic material in ensemble settings
• Sustaining tone quality and diction at varied dynamic levels