Chorale After an Old French Carol

Carol of Burgundy. Here is a lively and intricate setting of the classic French carol that builds to a powerful close. In imitation of the flute and drum mentioned in the carol, the singers play back and forth with their ?tu-re-lu-re-lu's? and ?pat-a-pat-a-pan's? on interludes throughout the piece. After a straightforward first verse, the second presents the melody mysteriously, in pianissimo octaves, while a ?tu-re-lu-re-lu? ostinato trades off in the inner parts. The third verse presents the melody in a three-part canon, and finally, anchored by a powerful 3-part women's texture reminiscent of Britten's This Little Babe, the fourth verse rises to a powerful and rafter-raising conclusion.

Probably composed in 1690 the Messe de Minu t pour Noël H 9 is perhaps Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s best-known composition after the Te Deum H 146. The special appeal of this 'Mass for the Midnight Service on Christmas Eve' lies in its use of no fewer than ten traditional French carols while impressively revealing Charpentier's mastery of the concertante style.The eight solo vocalists (SSAATTBB) can easily be taken from the chorus. They are divided into three groups one group of two sopranos and two groups each comprising alto tenor and bass which interact with the chorus and instruments. This new edition represents the currentstate of scholarship and offers a completely revised Urtext of Charpentier’s masterpiece.Urtext based on the latest scholarly researchStraightforward and easy-to-play keyboard reductionDuration: approx. 25 minutes