These words of this carol, full of colours and rich in symbolism, are from the Cherry Tree Carol , a popular folk carol telling a legend which goes back at least as far as the Coventry Mystery Plays. The piece received its first two performances on the same day, by Robinson College Choir and Clare College Choir, in Cambridge, and was later recorded by Robinson College Choir, conducted by Timothy Brown. The main tune should have an easy-going lilt, which turns into light, sprightly dancing for the refrain. 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. Jeremy Thurlow is a composer, writer and pianist. His music has been described as 'seductive, innovative, full of freshness' by Henri Dutilleux. It has been performed by the BBC Philharmonic, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Rolf Hind, the BBC Singers, Endymion, Carmen Elektra, Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Matthew Schellhorn and Sequitur (New York), among others. In 2007 he won the George Butterworth Award for new composition. As a musicologist he writes on French music in the twentieth century. His book on composer Henri Dutilleux is published in French by Millénaire III, and he has written and broadcast on the music of Messiaen and many other 20th-century composers, frequently appearing on Radio 3's CD Review. / Choeur SATB