SKU: HL.14035285

The Five Lesser Joys of Mary begins with a conventional Nativity scene - the ox and the ass for warmth, the star, the Wise Men - to verses attributed by Warlock to one Daniel Lawrence Kelleher, editor of Christmas Carols (No. 18 in the second series of Augustan Books of English Poetry) where the anonymous verses were published.

The fourth stanza recounts Jesus 'Confounding the doctors, the poor little Child,' while the fifth carries us to Calvary and a singularly lame conclusion as Mary 'Saw Jesus droop over and lie very still, She thought of the good times they had long ago When He'd droop in her arms and she'd singhusheenlo.'

Strophically composed, with small variations, Warlock's tenderness seems generic.

SKU: HL.2052900

UPC: 797242383663. 5.0x5.0x0.9 inches.

SKU: HL.2052895

UPC: 797242383441. 5.0x5.0x0.15 inches.

SKU: BR.CHB-5381-00

ISBN 9790004413821. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. English.

As director of the Bavarian Radio Choir, Howard Arman has been actively engaged with international Christmas carols through various Christmas-related CD productions in the past years. This has resulted in a number of original arrangements for four- to eight-part mixed choir a cappella, shedding new light on well-known classics such as O du frohliche [O, you joyful], Stille Nacht [Silent Night] and Lasst uns froh und munter sein [Let us be happy and cheerful]. The first volume includes five Christmas carols from the German-speaking regions. They range from simple but harmonically intriguing settings such as Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf [Dear nightingale, wake up] to eight-part sound paintings with bell-like chimes as in O du frohliche and classical double choir settings such as Resonet in laudibus. The second volume includes five Christmas spirituals with English texts, forming a contrast to the solemn and festive character of the first. The choir can prove its swing and jazz qualities here; the stirring arrangements are a gain for classical Christmas concerts, too. Following the tradition of the spiritual, some settings also require soloists, which can, however, also be recruited from the choir if adequate singers are available. The first piece combines the spirituals It's a Birthday and Wasn't That a Mighty Day to form a medley, Ain't That a Rockin' gives a moment of tranquility before the likewise rousing spirituals Mary Had a Baby and Little David conclude the volume. In both volumes, Howard Arman provides a short preface in German and English, explaining the background of each piece and giving advice on performance.