Up, Up, Up in the Sleigh!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
By Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0000108
$1.65
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Take your 2-part choir to new heights with this swinging selection with a hip big-band era feel. It's a guaranteed favorite for holiday concerts as students become singing (and dancing) reindeer proud of their ability to fly. A showstopper!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000108
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck leads the choral publications program at Alfred Music, where he curates a catalog known for its pedagogical rigor and accessibility. His compositional output spans over 450 choral works, vocal resources, and children's musicals, alongside instructional titles like Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. A trained tenor with degrees from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, Beck performs regularly with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and brings his experience as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician to honor choirs across the United States.
Beck's work as a commissioned composer and conductor for all-state choral groups reflects his deep investment in music literacy and choral artistry at all levels. His pieces appear regularly in YouTube performances worldwide, evidence of how broadly his music resonates with singers and educators. His background in musical theatre direction and long tenure as an Alfred studio singer since 1992 inform his gift for writing accessible, engaging choral music that challenges students while remaining genuinely fun to perform.
Why we love this
Beck captures the effervescence of big-band swing and translates it into a 2-part texture that feels anything but simplified. The hip rhythmic language and dancing accompaniment will spark genuine enthusiasm from singers, especially during a concert season when holiday repertoire risks blending into predictability. This is the kind of piece that generates applause and momentum mid-concert, partly because students themselves feel the joy of executing something stylistically sophisticated.
What to expect
The piece swings with a confident, breezy energy that immediately evokes the glamour of the big-band era. There's genuine lift and forward momentum in the rhythm, paired with the humor and heart of reindeer discovering they can fly. Singers will feel the satisfaction of executing clean rhythms and style without the complexity of traditional four-part writing.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in the hands of directors working with 2-part choirs who are ready for something beyond traditional holiday fare. Whether your ensemble is middle school, young high school, or an adult community group, the accessible 2-part voicing and rhythmically engaging accompaniment create space for singers to develop style and musicianship without getting lost in complex part writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by listening to the recorded accompaniment; let the rhythm section's groove set the template for how the choir should phrase and breathe.
- Shape the 2-part texture so that both voicings sound equally confident, even if your second part is less experienced. The 'reindeer pride' mentioned in the text works only if both layers feel secure and present.
- Plan choreography or movement cues that match the big-band energy. Simple hand gestures during the flying passages or sway patterns during sustained sections will reinforce the swinging feel and give singers a physical anchor for the style.
- Balance the playfulness of the lyrical content with genuine musical commitment. The song works because it sounds genuinely swinging, not because the text is cute.
How to use it
Position this as a high-energy second half opener or closer on a holiday concert, where its showstopping appeal will reset audience engagement. The 12-page format and 2-part voicing make it accessible enough to pair alongside other holiday selections without dominating rehearsal time, allowing you to program complementary pieces that might be more introspective or traditional.
Skills your students will build
- Swing rhythm and phrasing in a choral context
- Secure 2-part singing with balanced voice leading
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
- Stylistic awareness of big-band idioms
- Physical coordination between singing and choreography