The Holiday Season: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures Thompson's signature warmth and rhythmic sophistication in a piece that feels modern without losing its festive spirit. Unlike standard holiday fare, this selection brings genuine style to your December concert while remaining vocally straightforward enough for most choirs to learn quickly. The recorded accompaniment lets singers focus on blend and phrasing rather than fighting to find their parts.

Warm, nostalgic, and gently sophisticated. The piece carries the gleam of mid-century American vocal tradition yet feels immediate and engaging rather than archival. There's genuine joy here without sentimentality, and enough rhythmic ease to keep audiences smiling.

Choirs performing pop and seasonal music will find this an elegant alternative to more traditional holiday selections. It works equally well for high school ensembles seeking mature repertoire and community choirs wanting something contemporary and approachable. The straightforward vocal writing and available accompaniment track make it accessible while maintaining artistic integrity.

• Establish a relaxed, swinging feel from the opening. The accompaniment track models this beautifully, so let your singers listen critically before rehearsal to absorb the groove.
• Balance pop sensibility with choral precision. These voices should blend naturally, not sound overdone or overly theatrical.
• Keep diction clean and conversational, especially on lyrical moments. This style rewards clarity without artifice.
• Use the recorded accompaniment in early rehearsals to anchor parts securely, then gradually reduce dependence as confidence builds.

This works beautifully as an opener or palate-cleanser in a mixed holiday concert, offering contrast to both classical carols and contemporary worship music. Consider pairing it with other selections from the Alfred Pop Choral Series to build a cohesive pop-inflected set. It's also ideal for a secular holiday celebration where you want something festive but undenominational.

• Singing with rhythmic precision in a pop/swing idiom
• Balancing blend in block-chord textures
• Interpreting style markings and accompanying performance cues from a recorded track
• Sustaining lyrical phrasing over rhythmic accompaniment patterns