This Christmas: Holiday Pops for Choir 2022 Friday, November 04, 2022
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
This Christmas arr. Roger Emerson, SATB with piano and optional combo
The joy of spending the holidays with friends and family is the spirit of the song by the late, great Donny Hathaway. The happy and upbeat message is accompanied by equally happy music.
A Muppet Christmas Carol Medley arr. Ryan O’Connell, SATB with piano and optional rhythm
Three classic songs from a Disney holiday family-favorite movie is arranged for several voicings and will be enjoyed by various choir types and sizes. Lush instrumentation fills both piano and available instrumental parts for keyboard, guitar, bass, and percussion.
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town arr. Kirby Shaw, SATB with piano and optional combo
Jolly “jing-a-ling-a’s” provide hip transitions and bright bookends in this jazzed-up version of the great Christmas standard. Kirby’s arrangement fits the tune like a glove, and will last in your library year after year. Eight bars in the middle may be repeated as many times as desired, and opened up to include vocal and/or instrumental soloists, improvisation, scat singing, gradual stacking of written lines, etc. Just be sure to save a little something for the shout chorus that follows! SoundPax includes four horn parts, but easily adapts for rhythm section alone.
Swingin’ Christmas Tree (O Christmas Tree) arr. Kirby Shaw, SATB with piano and optional rhythm
Few can swing like Kirby Shaw and this is proof. The traditional “O Christmas Tree” is set in a swing style with ensemble scatting and it sounds like it has always been like this – swinging.
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer arr. Cristi Cary Miller, 3-part mixed with piano
This arrangement of the beloved Christmas song uses a jazz style that sets the pace for a fun presentation.The accessible voice parts offer singers an opportunity to explore scat singing with fun new chords. Singers can also add to the Christmas spirit by wearing sunglasses and antlers while Rudolph pays a special visit to the festive presentation.
Angels We Have Heard on High arr. Roger Emerson, SATBB a cappella
These “angels” are arranged in a way you’ve never heard them before: unique syncopation, pleasantly dissonant harmonies and a rolling vocal percussion background. Well-placed within the upper echelon of Emerson a cappella classics!
Three Jazzy Nutcrackers arr. Paul Langford, SATB a cappella
Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies,” “Waltz of the Flowers,” and “March” are set vocally a cappella. Re-harmonized and simplified slightly to be fresh and accessible, this is a fantastic selection for high school concert and jazz choirs.
Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.
Lora Moore joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2018. A former middle school and high school director of 32 years and a former church choir director of 20 years, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music from Capital University and a Master’s of Arts in Choral Music from The Ohio State University. During the off hours, Lora enjoys scouting out new day trips in Ohio to balance what her budget allows for her frequent trips to New York City to visit family and take in a Broadway show or two!