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Up on the Housetop: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$27.99 USD
$27.99 USD
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Up on the Housetop Cover Image
Up on the Housetop: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Up on the Housetop: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Traditional Carol / arr., with new words and music, by Alan Billingsley

Item: 00-45557
$27.99
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Description
You know this Christmas carol, but you've never heard it like this before! Alan Billingsley's contemporary interpretation brings the traditional tune up to date. The SATB voicing sounds great a cappella, while a funky accompaniment works well to support the SAB and SSA. Bass and drums on the optional SoundTrax CD pump up the R&B groove, or add your own vocal percussion.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081512969
SKU: 00-45557

More about this title

About the Arranger: Alan Billingsley

Alan Billingsley

Alan Billingsley's career spans the full spectrum of music creation, from educational arrangements to Broadway orchestrations. His work has appeared in commercial recordings, television productions including NBC's "Days of Our Lives," Disney parks and attractions, and corporate theatrical events. He holds a degree in music and psychology from Indiana University and maintains a fully digital recording studio in Los Angeles.

Billingsley's compositions have earned recognition from major award bodies, with seven works receiving Grammy consideration. He has served as a clinician at Disney's "Magic Music Days" and maintains an active presence in both the educational and entertainment industries, bringing contemporary production sensibilities to traditional material.

Why we love this

Billingsley respects the melody we all know while dropping it into a groove that actually sounds modern, not forced. The multiple voicing options (SATB, SAB, SSA) mean you're not locked into one configuration, and the recorded accompaniment captures a genuine R&B feel that inspires rather than dictates how your singers interpret the rhythms.

What to expect

Comfortable and contemporary at the same time. The tune settles into a relaxed R&B pocket that strips away the march-time stiffness of the original, creating space for singers to feel swing and syncopation rather than tick off a beat sheet. There's joy here that comes from recognition plus surprise.

Who it's for

Choirs looking to program a familiar holiday tune that actually engages singers and audiences in something fresh. Middle school through adult ensembles with the flexibility to perform in SATB, SAB, or SSA depending on your vocal resources.

How to get the most out of it

  • Experiment with vocal percussion layering. The groove invites rhythmic interjections from your singers; try doubling the kick with a vocal bass line on syllables like "boom" or "ch" to deepen the foundation.
  • If using the SoundTrax CD, rehearse without it first. Let your choir own the rhythmic pocket before adding the recorded drums and bass, so the parts lock in rather than chase the track.
  • Anchor the SATB voicing by isolating each part's rhythmic role in the arrangement. The soprano and alto lines often drive the hook; make sure those sections feel the groove independently before blending all four parts together.

How to use it

Open a holiday concert with infectious energy, or program it as a palate cleanser between longer, more serious pieces. The contemporary production value makes it pair well with other modern arrangements while still landing as unmistakably Christmas.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing rhythmically independent lines in grooved, syncopated contexts
  • Following a recorded accompaniment with secure pulse and intonation
  • Balancing written voicing with optional vocal percussion textures
  • Interpreting swing eighth notes and R&B rhythmic feels

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