I have had many requests for a list of Christmas music which is suitable for men’s chorus with limited voicing and can be prepared in a fairly short time. My chorus performs a few Christmas pieces which are primarily carol arrangements. From our experience, plus some of the songs I use in the high school, here are several really great for the Christmas season which are only two or three parts, effective for almost any audience, and use a minimum amount of rehearsal time. (DWCrouch)

On Christmas Day (Sussex Carol) - arr. Emily Crocker

Hal Leonard 47123017 - 3 part
(Bouncy, moves quickly, fun to sing, with an audience pleaser traditional tune.)

A Christmas Lullaby - Greg Gilpin

BriLee Music 224 - 2 part
(A new melody with short lines from “Silent Night”. This is new and will be very popular. It has a slow start, but when “Silent Night” comes in, the interest goes up. However, keep in mind that this is a lullaby.)

Born, Born in Bethlehem - arr. Donald Moore

BriLee Music 210 - 2 part
(A new edition of a familiar spiritual. Two part with optional solo parts. Easy to learn, and it has good spiritual rhythms--with percussion if you want.)

Caroling ‘Round the Christmas Tree - arr George Strid

Hal Leonard 08740641 - 2 part
(Nice arrangement of three carols: “A Caroling We Go”, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Jingle-Bell Rock”. Really moves along, is quick to learn, and a real audience pleaser. This is “after-glow” type music.)

Noel Nouvelet - arr Sonja Poorman

Alfred Publishing 18671 - 2 part
(A really new, very interesting arrangement of the traditional French Carol. Short, easy to learn, yet very effective. Includes three short phrases in French, which are optional.)

Still, Still Still - arr. Ruth Artman

Theodore Presser 392-41726 - 2 part (flute and bells optional)
(A great arrangement of the old Austrian carol. If you don’t have time to learn the four part, this is a great alternative.)

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - arr. Michael Levi

BriLee Music 213 - 2 part
(Great arrangement, but will take a little more time to prepare. Difficult to memorize but a wonderful new approach to this old classic.)

Peace, Peace - Rick and Sylvia Powell, arr. Fred Bock

Fred Bock Music Company B-G4013 - 3 part
(If you haven’t done this before, buy it now and ask questions later. Two melodies are introduced in the first section and in the second part they are combined with “Silent Night” for the most popular, effective song I have ever used in the Christmas Season. I have use it for mixed voices, women’s voices, men’s voices on the junior high, high school, church choir, adult men’s choir level, and all with great success. We have requests to sing it all the time. I have used it as a closer for my high school concerts for at least 15 years and people never tire of it. It has a beautiful accompaniment, and it is far better than singing the song in hymn form, or any arrangement of a hymn style.)

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I’m not sure if this could be considered a commercial, but here are three sets of carols which I have arranged that are meant to be learned quickly and used in caroling situations where accompaniment is not available. The “Processional” carols are arranged to let the group move around with stopping and starting spots marked in the music score, and with special markings for repeating sections.

Processional Carols Three - arr. DW Crouch

American Publishing & Recordings 8729 - 2 part (Some divisi endings)

1. O, Come All Ye Faithful
   (Works very well and fits into any situation)
   
2. Here We Come A Caroling
   (Works very well, intro/interludes are different)
   
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
   (Arrangement OK but does not work as well as the other two)

Carols For Caroling Set I - arr DW Crouch

Studio P/R (Columbia) SV 8120 - 2 part (Some divisi endings)

1. Good King Wenceslas
   (One of the best arrangements I’ve done. Very popular with my high school and men’s choirs. Two solo parts.)
   
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
   (Works well, a little hard on tenors)
   
3. Jingle Bells
   (This is a must sing-- it will drive everyone crazy with the repeated “jingle” pattern. One of the most popular things I’ve done.)
   

Carols For Caroling Set II - arr. DW Crouch

Studio P/R - Belwin SV8222 - 2 part (Some divisi endings)

1. We Three Kings
   (Three solo parts. Works well, but has about 4 measures that are different and are not easy to remember)
   
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (A good arrangement, but a little to difficult to get it to work right. Optional solo)
   
3. Deck The Halls (Doesn’t work the way it is written. You need to add words to the bass part instead of all the “las”.)

On the two sets of “Carols for Caroling”, don’t sing the introductions. They were designed to establish a key for the junior high kids. Very uninteresting. I also have a great arrangement of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” but so far no publisher has taken the set of which it is a part.

Donald W. Crouch
October, 1999

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Since 8 Jun 2001