The Reindeer Rap: 2-Part Speaking Chorus Choral Octavo
By Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0002488
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Christmas from the point of view of a group of rappin' reindeer. 'We do all the work while Santa gets the credit!' For 2-part speech choir with handclaps. Add rhythm instruments or, better yet, the optional SoundTrax CD (Trust us, it's a blast!) for a real 'Christmas rap' number. A novelty winner for every choir!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002488
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has built a prolific career as a choral composer and conductor with deep roots in music education and movement. Her catalog exceeds 600 published works for choirs of all levels, alongside 75 larger songbooks and musicals that have reached classrooms and stages nationwide. Since 1987, she has received annual ASCAP Special Music Awards, and she has conducted honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center. She spent more than three decades leading school choral and vocal publications for major educational publishers, most recently serving as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications for Alfred Music.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht has a gift for writing novelty numbers that actually work in performance. The humor here is specific and character-driven (reindeer demanding recognition) rather than relying on cuteness alone, which means audiences genuinely laugh. The speaking chorus format keeps the vocal demands low while the rap structure and built-in handclaps create natural momentum that carries even reluctant singers along.
What to expect
The energy is upbeat and irreverent, with the reindeer characters asserting themselves against the Santa-centered Christmas narrative. Handclaps punctuate the spoken text like a beat, and the rap structure feels contemporary and playful rather than preachy or sentimental.
Who it's for
Choirs at the middle school, high school, and adult levels who want a Christmas concert piece with personality and humor. This works equally well for show choirs, general music classes performing as ensembles, and traditional church or school choirs looking to break from carols.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a crisp, rhythmic handclap pattern before adding voices. Have students practice the clapping independently until it locks in, then layer the spoken text over a steady pulse.
- Divide the speaking parts strategically across your choir so each voice has moments to shine. The dialogue structure invites natural section calls and responses that energize the performance.
- Pair this with the optional SoundTrax CD for the full effect. The accompaniment transforms the piece from a classroom activity into a concert-ready novelty number with genuine hip-hop texture.
- Use staging and movement to sell the reindeer perspective. Even simple repeated motions (a hoof tap, a head toss) reinforce the character and give the audience something visual to follow during the spoken sections.
How to use it
Place this in the second half of your holiday concert to shift the mood after traditional carols and ballads. It pairs well with other secular, lighthearted holiday pieces and gives audiences permission to laugh during what can otherwise feel like a solemn season.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic spoken text delivery in sync with a steady pulse
- Call-and-response coordination between two voice parts
- Synchronized handclap technique as a rhythmic instrument
- Character interpretation and confidence in novelty performance contexts