Choir Sacred (SATB choir) SKU: AP.12-0571522149 For Unaccompanied Mixe...(+)
Choir Sacred (SATB choir)
SKU:
AP.12-0571522149
For Unaccompanied
Mixed Choir or 16 Solo
Voices. Composed by
Jonathan Harvey.
Performance Music
Ensemble; Single Titles.
Faber Edition. Sacred.
Choral Octavo. Faber
Music #12-0571522149.
Published by Faber Music
(AP.12-0571522149).
ISBN 9780571522149.
Lat.
Predominantly
hushed and serene,
Plainsongs for Peace and
Light proved to be
Jonathan Harvey's final
work. It sees Harvey
reexamining the very
fundamentals of his
craft, superimposing
lines of plainsong,
relishing the simple
clash of note against
note, and creating rich,
otherworldly sonorities
through an elaborate use
of canon. Harvey was a
composer who always
embraced and sought out
the very latest in
musical technologies but
the simplicity of the a
cappella choir became
something of a constant
to which he returned
throughout his life. The
piece is for mixed voices
of SATB in 16 parts.
Orchestra SKU: HL.14020998 Composed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Music Sa...(+)
Orchestra
SKU:
HL.14020998
Composed
by Sir Peter Maxwell
Davies. Music Sales
America. Classical. Book
[Softcover]. Composed
1999. 8 pages. Chester
Music #CH60356. Published
by Chester Music
(HL.14020998).
ISBN
9780711930766. UPC:
884088435059. 5.5x7.5
inches.
A short
piece for small
orchestra, written in
1989 when the composer
heard of Michael Vyner's
death. Premiered in
October 1989 at
Glyndebourne Sussex, by
the London Sinfonietta
and conducted by the
composer just six days
after Vyman's death.
Approximately six minutes
in duration, it is based
on the plainsong 'Cor
meum et caro mea
exultaverunt in Deum
vivum' and is scored for
two oboes, two bassoons,
two horns, two trumpets,
timpani and strings.
Organ SKU: HL.14028328 Composed by Sidney Campbell. Music Sales America. ...(+)
Organ
SKU:
HL.14028328
Composed
by Sidney Campbell. Music
Sales America. Classical.
Book [Softcover]. 10
pages. Music Sales
#NOV590316. Published by
Music Sales
(HL.14028328).
Chorale SATB [Vocal Score] Oxford University Press
A Clare Benediction Composed by John Rutter A Prayer Of St Richard Of Chicheste...(+)
A Clare Benediction
Composed by John Rutter
A Prayer Of St Richard Of
Chichester Composed by L.
J. White
Alleluia Composed by
William Boyce
Author Of Life Divine
Composed by Cecilia
Mcdowall
Be Still For The Presence
Of The Lord Composed by
David Evans; Arranged by
Richard Shephard
Bread Of The World
Composed by Scottish
Traditional; Arranged by
Alan Bullard
Brightest And Best
Composed by Malcolm
Archer
Christ Is The World's
True Light Composed by W.
K. Stanton
Christ The Lord Is Risen
Again Composed by Richard
Shephard
Christians Shout For Joy
And Gladness Composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach
Come Down, O Love Divine
Composed by Hilary
Tadman-robins
Plainsong: Creator Of The
Stars Arranged by John
Scott
Drop, Drop Slow Tears
Composed by Kerry Andrew
Evening Service In C
Composed by Frank Henry
Shera
Fairest Lord Jesus
Composed by Martin How
Gabriel To Mary Came
Composed by 14th Century
Irish; Arranged by Alan
Bullard
Give Thanks To God
Composed by Botswanan
Traditional; Arranged by
Alan Bullard
God Be In My Head
Composed by Armstrong
Gibbs
God In Mine Eternity
Composed by Alan Bullard
God So Loved The World
Composed by Alan Bullard
God That Madest Earth And
Heaven Composed by Welsh
Traditional; Arranged by
David Thorne
Hail, Virgin Mary (Ave
Maria) Composed by Franz
Liszt
Hark, The Glad Sound
Composed by David Thorne
Harvest Carol Composed by
Ian Ray
He Is Risen Composed by
Cecil Cope
Hide Not Thy Face
Composed by Richard
Farrant
see all...
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Is
The Lord Composed by
Franz Schubert; Arranged
by Alan Bullard
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord
God Almighty Composed by
Alan Smith
Hosanna To The Son Of
David Composed by Georg
Philipp Telemann
Irish Blessing Composed
by Bob Chilcott
Jesu, Lamb Of God,
Redeemer (Ave Verum
Corpus) Composed by
Edward Elgar
Jesus Christ The Apple
Tree Composed by English
Traditional; Arranged by
Alan Bullard
Jubilate (Let Us Praise
You) Composed by Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Lamb Of God (Agnus Dei)
Composed by Samuel Webbe
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep
Silence Composed by
Stephen Cleobury
Like The Murmur Of The
Dove's Song Composed by
Alan Smith
Lord, In Thy Mercy
Composed by Felix
Bartholdy Mendelssohn
Magnificat And Nunc
Dimittis In C Composed by
F. H. Shera
Never Weather-beaten Sail
Composed by Thomas
Campion; Arranged by Alan
Bullard
Now The Green Blade
Riseth Composed by French
Traditional; Arranged by
Alan Bullard
O Breath Of Life Composed
by English Traditional;
Arranged by Alan Bullard
O For A Closer Walk With
God Composed by Charles
Villiers Stanford
O God Of Mercy Composed
by Simon Lole
O God, Your Goodness
Composed by Ludwig Van
Beethoven
O Praise God In His
Holiness Composed by John
Weldon
Panis Angelicus Composed
by Cesar Auguste Franck
Peace Between Nations
Composed by Christopher
Wiggins
Pie Jesu Composed by
Gabriel Faure
Praise To The Trinity
Composed by Hildegard Of
Bingen
Psalm 150 Composed by Bob
Chilcott
Rejoice In The Lord
Always Composed by
Christopher Wiggins
Shout For Joy Composed by
African Traditional;
Arranged by Alan Bullard
Star Of Wonder Composed
by Alan Bullard
The Eternal Gifts Of
Christ The King Composed
by Guidetti/henry G. Ley
The Heavens Sing Praises
To God Composed by Ludwig
Van Beethoven
The Lord Ascendeth
Composed by Michael
Praetorius
The Lord Bless You And
Keep You Composed by John
Rutter
The Lord's My Shepherd
Composed by Bob Chilcott
The Peace Of God Composed
by Alan Bullard
The True And Living Bread
Composed by David
Blackwell
There Is No Rose Composed
by Andrew Smith
Thou Visitest The Earth
Composed by Maurice
Greene
To Be A Pilgrim Composed
by Nick Burt
Were You There? Composed
by American Spiritual;
Arranged by Peter Hunt
Where All Charity And
Love Are (Ubi Caritas)
Arranged by Alan Bullard
Wondrous Cross Composed
by Philip Wilby
The Oxford Book of
Flexible Anthems by Alan
Bullard (1947-). For
flexible instrumentation.
Mixed Voices. Sacred.
Paperback. 296 pages.
Published by Oxford
University Press
Intermediate SKU: GI.G-9657 Arranged by Robert J. Powell. Tune Name: Jesu...(+)
Intermediate
SKU:
GI.G-9657
Arranged by
Robert J. Powell. Tune
Name: Jesu, Dulcis
Memoria, Ecce Jam Noctis,
Jesu, Redemptor Omnium,
Stabat Mater Dolorosa,
Tantum Ergo Sacramentum.
Sacred. 16 pages. GIA
Publications #9657.
Published by GIA
Publications (GI.G-9657).
UPC:
785147965763.
Chara
cteristic of Powellâ??s
writing style, Five Organ
Preludes on Plainsong
Tunes is very musical and
expressive throughout.
The melodies flow
smoothly in and outâ??
sometimes in a polyphonic
texture and sometimes
clearly stated with a
solo organ stop. The
unmeasured notation and
beaming of each tune
matches the style of the
original chants. Most of
the sections are written
for three manuals, but
they can easily be
adapted to a two-manual
instrument. Registration
suggestions are
provided.
Unison voices, assembly, organ accompaniment - Early intermediate SKU: GI.G-9...(+)
Unison voices, assembly,
organ accompaniment -
Early intermediate
SKU: GI.G-9683
A Mass for Unison
Voices and Organ.
Composed by David Hurd.
Mass. Sacred. Octavo. 12
pages. GIA Publications
#9683. Published by GIA
Publications (GI.G-9683).
UPC: 785147968306.
English, Greek. Text
Source: Revised Order of
Mass 2010.
David
Hurd’s New
Plainsong, a unison
setting of the ordinary
of the Mass first
appeared in 1980 and
quickly became a staple
of Roman Catholic and
Episcopal congregations.
It was expanded in 1985
for inclusion as one the
three complete mass
settings in GIA’s
iconic
Worship—Third
Edition. Now, David has
set the new texts
according the 2010 Roman
Missal, keeping this
venerable setting alive
on the lips of
congregations. As the
title suggests, this is a
chant-like setting
accompanied by organ,
with sections equally
successful being sung
unaccompanied. This is
sturdy, beautiful music
that is able to bear
repetition week to week
throughout the year.
Composed by
Michael John Trotta. E.e.
cummings. Mjts.
Performance Score. With
Standard notation. 20
pages. Duration 5
minutes, 11 seconds. Carl
Fischer Music #CM9565.
Published by Carl Fischer
Music (CF.CM9565).
ISBN 9781491153611.
UPC: 680160911110. 6.75 x
10.5 inches. Key: E
minor. English. Text:
E.E. Cummings. E. e.
cummings. E.e.
cummings.
Trotta's
unique juxtaposition of
texts from the past
(Requiem?text in
the?Liber Usualis) with
the present (e.e.
cummings poem?i carry
your heart) results in a
compelling, lush
composition accessible to
mixed choirs of all
sizes. With optional oboe
and solo or small group,
i carry your heart?is
appropriate for concert,
festival, retirement or a
special tribute. It is
certain to be adored and
appreciated by all.
Highly
recommend!. This piece
incorporates the
Introit from the
Requiem in the
Liber Usualis in
the men's voices using
the text by E. E.
Cummings. The women's
voices have original
music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features the
Requiem text,
set simply in a
homophonic style. The
final section blends the
two styles into a prayer
of thanks and
remembrance. This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.
Director of Choral
Activities Dr. Greg
Ramsdell sought to pay
tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our song.
INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14. This piece
incorporates theA
IntroitA from
theA RequiemA in
theA Liber UsualisA
in the men's voices
using the text by E. E.
Cummings. The women's
voices have original
music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features theA
RequiemA text,
set simply in a
homophonic style. The
final section blends the
two styles into a prayer
of thanks and
remembrance. This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.
Director of Choral
Activities Dr. Greg
Ramsdell sought to pay
tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our song.
INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14. This piece
incorporates theA
IntroitA from
theA RequiemA in
theA Liber UsualisA
in the men's voices
using the text by E. E.
Cummings. The women's
voices have original
music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features theA
RequiemA text,
set simply in a
homophonic style. The
final section blends the
two styles into a prayer
of thanks and
remembrance. This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.
Director of Choral
Activities Dr. Greg
Ramsdell sought to pay
tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our song.
INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14. This piece
incorporates the
Introit from the
Requiem in the
Liber Usualis in
the men's voices using
the text by E. E.
Cummings. The women's
voices have original
music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features the
Requiem text,
set simply in a
homophonic style. The
final section blends the
two styles into a prayer
of thanks and
remembrance. This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.
Director of Choral
Activities Dr. Greg
Ramsdell sought to pay
tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our song.
INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14. This piece
incorporates the Introit
from the Requiem in the
Liber Usualis in the
men's voices using the
text by E. E. Cummings.
The women's voices have
original music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features the
Requiem text, set simply
in a homophonic style.
The final section blends
the two styles into a
prayer of thanks and
remembrance. This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.
Director of Choral
Activities Dr. Greg
Ramsdell sought to pay
tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our song.
INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14. This piece
incorporates
the Introit from
the Requiem in
the Liber
Usualis in the men's
voices using the text by
E. E. Cummings. The
women's voices have
original music that soars
gracefully about the
plainsong. The middle
section features
the Requiem text,
set simply in a
homophonic style. The
final section blends the
two styles into a prayer
of thanks and
remembrance.This beloved
E.E. Cummings text was
commissioned in honor and
loving memory of Dr.
Ferris Ohl (1914-2017) in
thanks for over four
decades of service to the
Heidelberg University
Music department.Director
of Choral Activities Dr.
Greg Ramsdell sought to
pay tribute to the rich
legacy of Dr. Ohl by
having a setting of the
text that broadened the
scope of the message i
carry your heart to
include those who have
come before us and who
live on in our
song. INSERT GRAPHIC
HERE - I e mailed you on
5-14.
By James Engel. For keyboard (TTBB choir, or Unison Voices). Choral Music. Chora...(+)
By James Engel. For
keyboard (TTBB choir, or
Unison Voices). Choral
Music. Choral. Christmas.
Moderately Easy. Octavo.
Published by MorningStar
Music Publishers
SKU: HL.48185488 Composed by Olivier Messiaen. Leduc. Classical. Softcove...(+)
SKU: HL.48185488
Composed by Olivier
Messiaen. Leduc.
Classical. Softcover. 201
pages. Alphonse Leduc
#AL29084. Published by
Alphonse Leduc
(HL.48185488).
11.0x0.523
inches.
Part of the
Treatise on rhythm,
colour and ornithology
written in French by
Olivier Messiaen, this
volume is the fourth of
the 7 tomes. This volume
focuses on plainsongs,
and the accentuations in
Mozart's pieces. It
features the analysis of
the 'The Whitsun Mass for
Organ', and of the '21
concerti for Piano and
Orchestra' by Mozart.
This treatise depicts the
full theory behind
Messiaen?s compositions
and how he composed the
music, including his
conception of rhythms,
his incorporation of
birdsong and his relation
to sound and colours.
While most of the
composers struggle to
explain their
composition, Messiaen has
managed to write a
Treatise in 7 volumes to
explain all the important
aspects of his work.
Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992) was a French
organist and composer
passionate about
Ornithology and one of
the most important
composer of his century.
Inspired by Japanese
music, he had a very
special way of composing
and his work can be
identified by its
complexity, its diatonic
aspect, its harmony with
limited transposition,
its colour and its
additive rhythms. He
composed many works
related to ornithology
and birdsong, including
the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7
volumes..
Orchestra (Orchestra) SKU: HL.14008415 Composed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davi...(+)
Orchestra (Orchestra)
SKU: HL.14008415
Composed by Sir Peter
Maxwell Davies. Music
Sales America. Post-1900.
Sheet Music, Miniature
Score. With Text
language: English. 110
pages. Chester Music
#CH55687. Published by
Chester Music
(HL.14008415).
UPC:
884088808242.
8.5x11.0x0.261
inches.
This work,
written by Maxwell Davies
in 1983 for chamber
orchestra, was
commissioned to celebrate
the quartercentenary of
Edinburgh University. The
first performance was
given by the Scottish
Chamber Orchestra
conducted by Edward
Harper in October 1983.
Duration c. 29mins. This
work was thought through
in outline following a
visit to the ruined
pre-Reformation church of
Hoy in Orkney, on a fine
Spring afternoon after
Maxwell Davies had played
the harmonium for the
tiny congregation in its
large bleak Victorian
replacement. The old
church was surrounded by
the graves of centuries,
the more recent ones with
familiar names, largely
of people who lived in
houses now ruinous -
crofters, fishermen,
clerics, sea-captains.
Next to it stood the
chief farmhouse, the Bu,
going back to Viking
times. He thought of the
lives and deaths
encompassed there,
expressed through
hundreds of years of
music in the church, and
in the big barn of the
farm. The plainsongs
'Dies Irae' and 'Victimae
Paschali Laudes' are used
throughout the work - the
first concerning the Day
of Judgement, from the
Mass for the Dead, the
second particular to
Easter Sunday and the
Resurrection. These are
subject to constant
transformation - the
intervallic contour
slowly changes from one
into the other, and their
notes are made to dance
through Renaissance
astrological 'magic
square' patterns. The
orchestra consists of
double woodwind, two
horns, two trumpets and
strings.
Keyboard SKU: ST.K49 Composed by Various. Edited by Alan Brown. Piano & k...(+)
Keyboard
SKU:
ST.K49
Composed by
Various. Edited by Alan
Brown. Piano & keyboard
music. Selected from
Musica Britannica Volume
96. Edited by Alan Brown.
Keyboard collection.
Stainer & Bell Ltd. #K49.
Published by Stainer &
Bell Ltd. (ST.K49).
ISBN
9790220224461.
All
eighteen pieces in this
collection are reliably
dated to the reign of
James I, and whether by
named composers or
anonymous ones, appear in
sources other than the
notable virginal books
preserved in the
Fitzwilliam Museum,
Cambridge. The contents
demonstrate the variety
of forms in the keyboard
repertoire of this
period, from
plainsong-based
compositions to dances by
Orlando Gibbons. The
'Pretty ways for young
beginners to look on',
possibly by Thomas
Tomkins, are a
fascinating example of
music contemporary to the
time, written with the
didactic purpose of
instructing musicians in
the techniques of
counterpoint.
CONTENTS Prelude in
d: Edward Gibbons
Gaudent in caelis:
Anon. Miserere:
Anon. Upon a
plainsong: Attrib.
Orlando Gibbons Verse
in G: Anon. Fantasia
in a: John (or Thomas)
Holmes Fantasia in G:
Attrib. Orlando
Gibbons Fantasia in
G: Anon. Pavan in e:
Anon. Galliard in C:
Anon. Galliard in F:
Anon. Fortune my foe:
Anon. Alman in F:
Thomas Tomkins Ballet
in G: James Harding, arr.
Anon. Coranto in C:
Anon. Jig in G:
Anon. Tomboy:
Anon. Pretty ways for
young beginners to look
on: Anon. (Thomas
Tomkins?).
Cantata for the 1st
Sunday in Advent.
Composed by Johann
Sebastian Bach. Edited by
Ulrich Leisinger.
Arranged by Paul Horn.
This edition: urtext.
Stuttgart Urtext Edition:
Bach vocal; Hymns by
Martin Luther: Nun komm,
der Heiden Heiland.
German title: Nun Komm,
Der Heiden Heiland I Rev.
Sacred vocal music,
Cantatas, Advent. Study
score. Composed 1714. BWV
61. 24 pages. Duration 23
minutes. Carus Verlag #CV
31.061/07. Published by
Carus Verlag
(CA.3106107).
ISBN
9790007043490. Key: A
minor / g major.
Language: German/English.
Text: Neumeister,
Erdmann. Text: Erdmann
Neumeister.
The
opening chorus uses the
first verse of the old
plainsong hymn Veni
redemptor gentium, which
in the paraphrase by
Martin Luther has become
the most important Advent
hymn of the Protestant
Church. Bach introduces
the traditional plainsong
melody in the form of a
French overture, here
symbolizing the entry of
the King of Heaven, thus
creating an unusual and
splendid opening piece
for the beginning of the
church year. Score
available separately -
see item CA.3106100.
(SSS and Harp or Piano, New Edition). Composed by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). ...(+)
(SSS and Harp or Piano,
New Edition). Composed by
Benjamin Britten
(1913-1976). For Choral
(SSA). Boosey and Hawkes
Sacred Choral. 12 pages.
Boosey and Hawkes
#M051481620. Published by
Boosey and Hawkes
Cantata for the 1st
Sunday in Advent.
Composed by Johann
Sebastian Bach. Edited by
Ulrich Leisinger.
Arranged by Paul Horn.
This edition: urtext.
Stuttgart Urtext Edition:
Bach vocal; Hymns by
Martin Luther: Nun komm,
der Heiden Heiland.
German title: Nun Komm,
Der Heiden Heiland I Rev.
Sacred vocal music,
Cantatas, Advent. Choral
Score. Composed 1714. BWV
61. 4 pages. Duration 23
minutes. Carus Verlag #CV
31.061/05. Published by
Carus Verlag
(CA.3106105).
ISBN
9790007043483. Key: A
minor / g major.
Language: German/English.
Text: Neumeister,
Erdmann. Text: Erdmann
Neumeister.
The
opening chorus uses the
first verse of the old
plainsong hymn Veni
redemptor gentium, which
in the paraphrase by
Martin Luther has become
the most important Advent
hymn of the Protestant
Church. Bach introduces
the traditional plainsong
melody in the form of a
French overture, here
symbolizing the entry of
the King of Heaven, thus
creating an unusual and
splendid opening piece
for the beginning of the
church year. Score
available separately -
see item CA.3106100.
(SSA Chorus, Harp or Piano). By Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). For Choral (SSA). ...(+)
(SSA Chorus, Harp or
Piano). By Benjamin
Britten (1913-1976). For
Choral (SSA). Boosey and
Hawkes Sacred Choral. 12
pages. Boosey and Hawkes
#M051481644. Published by
Boosey and Hawkes
Wolcum Yole Chorale SATB SATB, Harpe Boosey and Hawkes
SATB and Harp (Piano). By Benjamin Britten. Arranged by Julius Harrison. (SATB)...(+)
SATB and Harp (Piano). By
Benjamin Britten.
Arranged by Julius
Harrison. (SATB). Boosey
and Hawkes Sacred Choral.
Size 6.8x10.5 inches. 8
pages. Published by
Boosey and Hawkes.
Choral (SATB Choir) SKU: HL.48022495 SATB and Harp or Piano, New Editi...(+)
Choral (SATB Choir)
SKU: HL.48022495
SATB and Harp or
Piano, New Edition.
Composed by Benjamin
Britten. Boosey & Hawkes
Sacred Choral. Classical.
Octavo. 12 pages. Boosey
& Hawkes #M051481583.
Published by Boosey &
Hawkes (HL.48022495).
ISBN 9781476871486.
UPC: 884088669676.
6.75x10.5
inches.
Texts:
Latin and
English
Publisher:
Boosey &
Hawkes
Difficulty
level: 3
The
Ceremony of Carols is
one of Britten's
best-known and
most-performed works. It
is a brilliantly
conceived and dramatic
concert work which sees
the voices process to
their places singing
unaccompanied plainsong
and, at the end,
processing out again to
the same chant. These
movements can also be
accompanied but strictly
only if the voices do not
process. The final
Alleluia can be repeated
as many times as
necessary to get the
singers to and from their
destination.The carols
are for three-part
children's voices
(though, of course they
can be sung by female
adults as well) and they
form a two-part work
around a central
Interlude for harp which
is based on the plainsong
from the Procession.
Variety is the key word
here as all the carols
have such individual
identities. The
forthright Wolcum Yole!,
the deliciously lyrical
There is no Rose, the
swinging Balulalow, the
fiery and dramatic This
little Babe all
contribute to a work
which is a feast of
discovery throughout.
Lovely solos and duos add
further colour and the
harp part, an inspired
choice of accompaniment,
enriches, colours and
surrounds the voices with
its pictorial musical
imagery. If anything
shows Britten's genius
for writing for voices it
must be this
work.
The
challenges here are in
creating a real equality
between voice parts,
fielding a confident pair
of soloists, and making
the most of the
wonderfully colourful
poems Britten has chosen
to set. Pronunciation is
not really an issue, but
when I recorded this work
with the Finzi Singers I
decided to follow the
example of Sacred and
Profane and use authentic
medieval pronunciation
for which an expert coach
was necessary. It brings
an added element of
colour to a familiar
aural
experience.