Star Carol: Mixed Choir and Accomp.: Score & Parts

This exclusive collection brings together 12 of Nico Muhly?s sacred works for mixed-voice choir. These vivacious fresh and dramatic pieces will make an impact whether in the church or in the concert hall and range from the intimate Lord keep us modest when we claim to the effervescent Bright Star Carol alongside service music such as Muhly?s Third Service. All are accessible to learn and offer choirs a new slant on contemporary choral music at its very best.  'Choral music has always been at the emotional core of my musical output. Even when I?m writing large-scale orchestral works (or indeed chamber music) I alwaysfind myself returning to techniques and textures I?ve greedily stolen from centuries of music from Tye to Howells early and recent. I try to design my own choral music primarily for use in worship where the measure of the success of the piece is if it helps guide the listeners? ears upwards and elsewhere as sacred architecture and the various rituals of the church themselves are meant to do. The specificity of music heard only in certain seasons is for me an important and thrilling element of the choral tradition: a Beethoven Symphony is welcome at any point in the year but an anthem for Candlemas works only then at a certain time of day and on a certain day of the year. With this functional spirit at the heart of the compositional process I hope that the music collected here makes equal sense in a concert setting. These works range from ordinaries of the mass to hymns to motets and represent a decade and a half of output.' - Nico Muhly

The Oxford Book of Flexible Carols is perfect resource for choirs of all types and sizes. Each piece is presented with flexible scoring options clearly explained throughout enabling performance by various combinations of singers. With carols for Advent Christmas New Year and Epiphany and a fabulous range accessible quality material this is a must-have collection for all choirs at Christmas.

John Rutter's Christ Is The Morning Star for SATB Choir and Organ.Commissioned by Graham Ross for the choir of Clare College Cambridge this joyous yet reflective Christmas carol will appeal to both Choir and audience. It is characterised by a soaring melody an artful use of texture and a gentle expressiveness heightened by modal inflections and the Organ accompaniment.The text written by the composer is inspired by an inscription in Durham Cathedral by the Venerable Bede: 'Christus est stella matutina'.

A carol scored for Upper Voice Choir SATB and Piano by Bob Chilcott. The music is shared at first between the upper-voice and mixed choirs before they come together the one a delicious countermelody to the other. The music is quite simply beautiful in keeping with the words and possesses that elusive quality of seeming to have always existed.

This joyous and uplifting carol sets an original text by Anne Willcocks the composer's daughter. The carol alternates simple tuneful verses for Solo or Unison voices with a joyous refrain. Instantly appealing it is sure to become a favourite of Christmasses to come.

Follow That Wondrous Star is a partner song to the popular classic carol We Three Kings. For 2-Part voices with Piano accompaniment and optional descant or bells this fabulous arrangement includes additional words and music by Mary Donnelly. This is an uncomplicated and accessible song that combines the tune of the original with a new melody and updated lyrics. This is an imaginative and creative piece that will prove to be an enjoyable choice for young school choirs.

Contents:1. Christmas Is A Feeling (HMC116). 2. Holy Manger (HMC368).3. In Babylon Town (HMC119).4. Our Brother Is Born (HMC293).5. At This Joyous Christmas Time (HMC332).6. Star Of Light (HMC515).7. Carol Of The Children (HMC605).8. Ring The Bells (HMC234).

Lulajze Jezuniu is a dual-language arrangement of a well-known Polish carol presented with the original Polish text and an English singing translation by the composer. Chilcott gives the exquisite melody of this gentle lullaby sung to Jesus and Mary to the alto soloist setting it above a mellifluous background of rich harmonies and gentle polyphony from the choir.Lulajze Jezuniu has been recorded by NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir on the CD The Seeds of Stars.SATB (with SAT solos) unaccompanied

for SATB and piano or organ A gentle tuneful Advent carol with words by the composer.