Par PITTS ANTONY. The Naxos Book of Carols is collection of both the very old and the very new. Commissioned by the leading international classical music label, Naxos, these twenty-four arrangements of traditional and original carols tell the Christmas story - from the hope of Advent and the message of the Angels, to the humble birth of the baby in Bethlehem and the coming of the King of kings. This collaboration between Naxos and Faber Music has brought this volume, containing all 24 carols in four narrative sequences, in new arrangements for SATB choir with minimum divisi. There is a good mix of accompanied and a capella (even the latter have optional accompaniments) and there is practical guidance on how the carols may be used by congregations, as well as choirs with varied resources. The original CD, performed by the award-winning choir Tonus Peregrinus and directed by the composer Antony Pitts, is included within the book making it incredible value for money. / Choral Music / Recueil / Voix Mixtes

Fassung Ii. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. The St. John Passion ranks alongside the St. Matthew Passion, the Christmas Oratorio, the Magnificat and the B minor Mass as one of the great vocal works from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he substantially revised the general concept of the piece and also changed numerous details. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources and thus present the work in a form which was never heard during Bach’s lifetime. Consequently, the wish often expressed by conductors to perform anauthentic version by Bach could not be easily achieved. The present critical, new edition of the St. John Passion fulfills this wish and for the first time makes available the complete music of the second version of the work as it was performed under Bach’s direction in 1725. Since a number of movements were replaced by others, including the opening chorus, this version differs most dramatically from the “standard” version which is well known today. J. S. Bach's Johannes Passion BWV 245 for SATB and Piano. Die Johannespassion zählt neben der doppelchörigen Matthäuspassion, dem Weihnachtsoratorium, dem Magnificat und der h-Moll-Messe zu den groß en Vokalwerken der Leipziger Jahre Johann Sebastian Bachs. Im Gegensatz zu den ubrigen oratorischen Werken hat Bach / Musique religieuse / Date parution : 2005-12-01/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

These well-known words seem endlessly fruitful for the composer and conjure up such lovely images which strike each of us in our own way. For me it was the beauty of the language with its flower imagery which made me want to set the words with richly warm harmony and to temper that with gently imitative refrains. The important element in approaching the performance of this carol is the blend and balance of voices. With divisi writing and characteristically colourful harmonies, it is important that each note in the texture is given equal weight. It is also desirable that the tempo should be flexible and that phrase ends should be given a little time, especially at those moments marked either with a comma or tenuto. The final section starting with the upper voices should be ethereal and when the tenors and basses join they should do so gently to balance the upper parts. The bulk of the carol should be conducted in a minim beat, as indicated by the 2/2 time signature. Subdivisions should only be necessary at rallentandos. The piece should flow freely. 3/4 bars can be conducted in one to continue to encourage the carol's flow. Recommended recording: Come out, Lazar - The shorter choral works of Paul Spicer (Regent REGCD280) by The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, directed by Sarah MacDonald. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) A Cappella

An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. O Saving Victim was completed on 16th March, 2003, and was premiered by the choir of St Mary's Church, Goochland, VA, directed by Hope Armstrong Erb. The solo lines in this piece should blend with the rest of the chorus as much as possible. In large choirs, the solo lines in bars 21-22 and 26-30 may be sung by a pair or small group of people to preserve balance. This does not apply to the unaccompanied solos in bar 30-35. Zachary Wadsworth's 'vivid, vital, and prisimatic' music has established him as one of the leading composers of his generation, especially among those writing vocal, choral and operatic works. As winner of the 2011 King James Bible Composition Award, Wadsworth's anthem Out of the South Cometh the Whirlwind was performed by the choir of Westminster Abbey in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. Other recent honours include awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP, and the American Composers Forum, and performances by the Washington National Opera Chorus, Boston Metro Opera, Long Leaf Opera, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra. Wadsworth's music is widely broadcast and distributed, with a recent commission from Choir and Organ magazine, and frequent airings on the BBC, NPR and CBC. / Choeur SATB

Par LAURIDSEN MORTEN. Four poems sharing a common motif of 'Night' provide the texts for my choral cycle Nocturnes, the American Choral Directors Association's commissioned work for its 2005 national convention. For Rilke's atmospheric 'Sa nuit d'ete,” several melodic themes are supported by dense, colorful harmonies in both the choral and piano parts, leading to a climactic section where all are combined and stated simultaneously. Neruda's 'Soneto de la Noche,” from his Cien Sonetos de Amor, speaks of an eternal love that transcends death while reaffirming life. My a cappella setting of this gorgeous poem is predominantly quiet, serene and folk-like, utilizing direct harmonies accompanying long, lyrical vocal lines. Agee's wondrous 'Sure on this Shining Night” is set much like a song from the American musical theater, a genre for which I have held a life-long esteem. Rilke's poignant 'Voici le soir” recalls the opening bell sounds and jazz-tinged chords of the first movement and serves as an epilogue, quietly concluding this cycle of night songs as darkness descends. --Morten Lauridsen/ Feuillet / Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Piano