We Like Christmas That Way: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

The Brownsey and Lantz partnership consistently delivers choral writing that lands with contemporary singers because it takes popular musical idioms seriously. A hip-hop holiday rap gives you genuine stylistic material to rehearse, not just novelty packaging; your choir will develop real rhythmic precision and find genuine fun in the grooves they're executing.

Contemporary and rhythmically sharp. The piece channels hip-hop's forward-driving energy while maintaining holiday appeal, creating a performance that feels current without abandoning seasonal warmth.

Choirs seeking modern holiday repertoire that reflects current musical tastes and energizes student engagement. This works particularly well for middle school and high school programs that want to reach audiences beyond traditional carol contexts.

• Keep the rhythmic pocket tight and even. Hip-hop thrives on precise alignment with the beat, so lock the rhythm section early and have singers feel the grid before layering the rap melody.
• Articulate the consonants cleanly in rap passages to ensure clarity at tempo. Crisp diction separates energetic delivery from muddy execution.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the groove and tempo feel; rehearse sections unaccompanied first, then blend with the track to build confidence.

Position this as a centerpiece for a mixed-genre holiday concert, balancing it alongside traditional carols or jazz arrangements to show the full spectrum of holiday music. It also works as a strong audience-engagement piece earlier in your concert to set an energetic tone.

• Rhythmic precision in contemporary idioms (hip-hop groove and meter consistency)
• Rap delivery and diction clarity at tempo
• Ensemble cohesion across contrasting musical styles
• Comfort with recorded accompaniments and click-based rehearsal