We Need A Little Christmas (from Mame) (arr. Mark Hayes): SSA Choral Octavo
We Need A Little Christmas (from Mame) (arr. Mark Hayes) Sheet Music Preview

We Need A Little Christmas (from Mame) (arr. Mark Hayes): SSA Choral Octavo

Arranged by Mark Hayes

Item: 35-DS00448745
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS00448745

More about this title

About the Arranger: Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger with more than 1,750 published works across sacred music, Broadway adaptations, orchestral pieces, and piano literature. After earning a summa cum laude degree in Piano Performance from Baylor University, Hayes built an international reputation as both a conductor and concert pianist, leading ensembles at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall while premiering major works including his Requiem at the Vatican in 2014.

Beyond his concert music career, Hayes brings theatrical sensibility to popular repertoire. His orchestrations span Broadway musicals and theatrical productions, while his arrangement catalog demonstrates a gift for adapting familiar melodies into accessible yet sophisticated choral settings. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Hayes continues composing across genres from gospel to jazz to classical, driven by his mission to create music that resonates globally.

Why we love this

Hayes captures the infectious energy of this Jerry Herman classic without drowning the piece in complexity. The SSA voicing opens this Broadway standard to ensembles that might otherwise sidestep it, and his arrangement maintains the joy and momentum that makes the song irresistible while giving singers genuine musical moments to perform rather than just deliver lyrics.

What to expect

Bright, purposeful, and genuinely cheerful without veering into saccharine territory. The arrangement invites singers into the song's narrative energy; it feels like a conversation among friends rather than a formal performance piece.

Who it's for

SSA choirs at the middle school, high school, and community levels seeking accessible holiday repertoire with Broadway flair. Directors wanting to program something familiar and joyful without sacrificing musicianship will find Hayes's touch elevates the material beyond typical holiday fare.

How to get the most out of it

  • Find the natural speaking rhythm in the verses before worrying about strict metronomic precision; this arrangement thrives on conversational phrasing that feels spontaneous.
  • Balance the part writing so the accompaniment never overpowers the melody line, especially important in an octavo format where piano and voices share close quarters.
  • Let the harmonic shifts breathe. Hayes includes some unexpected chord colors that deserve slight space to land rather than rushing through chord changes.
  • Commit fully to the character: this song demands genuine warmth and optimism, not a polite rendering of Christmas cheer.

How to use it

Position this as a strong closer on a holiday concert where you want to send the audience out energized. It pairs particularly well with a mix of traditional carols and contemporary sacred pieces, offering the Broadway warmth that contemporary audiences recognize and embrace.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic independence in SSA voicing (maintaining individual lines while blending)
  • Shaping lyrical phrases in uptempo material
  • Balancing legit singing with theatrical expression
  • Reading and performing Hayes's accessible chromatic harmonic language
  • Sustaining energy and vocal brightness across an 11-page arrangement

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