Choral Cello, Contrabass
voice, Piano, Viola,
Violin 1, Violin 2,
Violin 3, SATB chorus
SKU: CF.CM9734
Composed by Basque Carol.
Arranged by Christopher
Thomas. 12 pages.
Duration 2 minutes, 37
seconds. Carl Fischer
Music #CM9734. Published
by Carl Fischer Music
(CF.CM9734).
ISBN
9781491161142. UPC:
680160919734. Key: A
minor. English. Basque
Carol.
A Basque
Carol (also known as
Gabriel's Message) holds
a special place in
Western music. The carol
originates from Basque
country around the 13th
century, based on the
Latin hymn, Angelus ad
Virginem (likely of
Franciscan origin). The
tune quickly spread
throughout Europe,
finding popularity in
Britain where it was even
referenced in Chaucer's
Canterbury Tales: Playing
so sweetly that the
chamber rang; / and
Angelus ad virginem he
sang. . .. Interestingly,
the melody we know and
love today is derived
from the original Basque
version. In my view, this
tune is a perfect example
of melody-crafting. It is
at once hauntingly
beautiful, yet warm and
joyous. Its contours are
complex, dramatic, yet
singable. I believe this
melodic accessibility is
the key to the song's
lasting popularity. I
would also attribute A
Basque Carol's continued
popularity to its elegant
translation into English
(by Sabine Baring-Gould,
who rediscovered the
original Basque tune).
Translations often risk
sounding unimaginative,
coarse, and blunt. This
translation is strikingly
different. It was graced
with an especially poetic
translation including
lines such as his wings
as drifted snow, his eyes
as flame. I am very
excited to offer a new
perspective on this
classic carol, joining
the tradition of
composers preserving and
reimagining a priceless
medieval melody. My first
goal was to create a
flowing, richly-textured,
even cinematic string
accompaniment for the
choir. This approach was
very much inspired by the
dense, string-writing
style of English composer
Ralph Vaughan Williams.
My second goal was to
make the arrangement
flexible enough to be
performed with only
choir, only strings, or
(best of all) both
ensembles combined. To
further complement this
approach, I've added an
obligato line for a solo
recorder (solo flute or
violin work just as
well). If you listen
carefully, you will hear
a quote from my other
favorite holiday carol,
Jesu Bambino. I hope you
enjoy performing A Basque
Carol. I especially hope
that you sense the
ancient magic cast into
this tune, hearing the
ineffable qualities that
have compelled us to
sustain it for nearly a
millennium. Whether
you're a choir, a string
orchestra, or a combined
ensemble, this
arrangement of A Basque
Carol will surely be a
haunting and lovely
addition to your next
holiday program!.
A
Basque Carol (also known
as Gabriel’s
Message) holds a special
place in Western music.
The carol originates from
Basque country around the
13th century, based on
the Latin hymn, Angelus
ad Virginem (likely of
Franciscan origin). The
tune quickly spread
throughout Europe,
finding popularity in
Britain where it was even
referenced in
Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales:Â
“Playing so sweetly
that the chamber rang; /
and Angelus ad virginem
he sang. .
.â€.Interestingly,
the melody we know and
love today is derived
from the original Basque
version. In my view, this
tune is a perfect example
of melody-crafting. It is
at once hauntingly
beautiful, yet warm and
joyous. Its contours are
complex, dramatic, yet
singable. I believe this
melodic accessibility is
the key to the
song’s lasting
popularity. I would also
attribute A Basque
Carol’s continued
popularity to its elegant
translation into English
(by Sabine Baring-Gould,
who rediscovered the
original Basque tune).
Translations often risk
sounding unimaginative,
coarse, and blunt. This
translation is strikingly
different. It was graced
with an especially poetic
translation including
lines such as “his
wings as drifted snow,
his eyes as
flame.â€I am very
excited to offer a new
perspective on this
classic carol, joining
the tradition of
composers preserving and
reimagining a priceless
medieval melody. My first
goal was to create a
flowing, richly-textured,
even cinematic string
accompaniment for the
choir. This approach was
very much inspired by the
dense, string-writing
style of English composer
Ralph Vaughan Williams.
My second goal was to
make the arrangement
flexible enough to be
performed with only
choir, only strings, or
(best of all) both
ensembles combined. To
further complement this
approach, I’ve
added an obligato line
for a solo recorder (solo
flute or violin work just
as well). If you listen
carefully, you will hear
a quote from my other
favorite holiday carol,
Jesu Bambino.I hope you
enjoy performing A Basque
Carol. I especially hope
that you sense the
ancient magic cast into
this tune, hearing the
ineffable qualities that
have compelled us to
sustain it for nearly a
millennium. Whether
you’re a choir, a
string orchestra, or a
combined ensemble, this
arrangement of A Basque
Carol will surely be a
haunting and lovely
addition to your next
holiday program!