This Time of the Year: TTBB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures the languid charm of the original while tailoring it for TTBB voices with warmth and sophistication. The piece sits comfortably in the men's choir range and resists the treacly sentimentality that often plagues holiday arrangements, instead delivering genuine nostalgia through blues-inflected harmony and a melody that feels both conversational and memorable.

Warm and reflective, like reminiscing over hot cocoa on a December evening. The blues-rooted harmonies give the piece an unhurried, sophisticated feel that honors both the original artists and the season without resorting to cliché.

Men's choirs and mixed ensembles seeking holiday repertoire with genuine artistic substance. This works equally well for concert choirs wanting to step outside classical tradition and for jazz-oriented groups looking to expand their arrangement library.

• Shape the verses as intimate reflections rather than announcements; the crooner melody thrives on restraint and conversational phrasing.
• Balance the four parts so the bass line supports without overwhelming; the blues changes depend on harmonic clarity from all four voices working together.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the groove, especially if your ensemble is new to jazz inflection and swing feel.
• Let the tag at the end breathe slightly; resist the urge to rush as the piece settles into its final warm sentiment.

Pair this with classical or traditional holiday fare to show the full spectrum of Christmas music in American culture. It also works beautifully as a closing piece on a winter concert, offering audiences something they recognize but experience afresh through the men's voices.

• Jazz phrasing and swing feel in a choral context
• Blues harmony and voice leading in popular music styles
• Balancing independent melodic lines within a groove-based arrangement
• Interpretation of notated swing feel and stylistic inflection marks