A Feast of Carols

SKU: HL.48022495

ISBN 9781476871486. UPC: 884088669676. 6.75x10.5 inches.

Texts: Latin and English

Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Difficulty level: 3

The Ceremony of Carols is one of Britten's best-known and most-performed works. It is a brilliantly conceived and dramatic concert work which sees the voices process to their places singing unaccompanied plainsong and, at the end, processing out again to the same chant. These movements can also be accompanied but strictly only if the voices do not process. The final Alleluia can be repeated as many times as necessary to get the singers to and from their destination.The carols are for three-part children's voices (though, of course they can be sung by female adults as well) and they form a two-part work around a central Interlude for harp which is based on the plainsong from the Procession. Variety is the key word here as all the carols have such individual identities. The forthright Wolcum Yole!, the deliciously lyrical There is no Rose, the swinging Balulalow, the fiery and dramatic This little Babe all contribute to a work which is a feast of discovery throughout. Lovely solos and duos add further colour and the harp part, an inspired choice of accompaniment, enriches, colours and surrounds the voices with its pictorial musical imagery. If anything shows Britten's genius for writing for voices it must be this work.

The challenges here are in creating a real equality between voice parts, fielding a confident pair of soloists, and making the most of the wonderfully colourful poems Britten has chosen to set. Pronunciation is not really an issue, but when I recorded this work with the Finzi Singers I decided to follow the example of Sacred and Profane and use authentic medieval pronunciation for which an expert coach was necessary. It brings an added element of colour to a familiar aural experience.

Duration: 22 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011.

SKU: GI.G-5632

ISBN 9781579991579. English. Text source: Various authors. Text by Various.

Martin E. Marty, Emeritus Professor at the University of Chicago, says it best in the forward of this new hymn tune collection, “Teach Our Hearts is full of music that will indeed belong in cathedrals and inspire their choirs. But I am here called upon to witness to the fact that everything in this book is singable among smaller worshipping communities, where volunteer choirs help lead ordinary congregations-if there are such-in singing.” 54 new hymns, songs and carols are presented here texts by a plethora of well-known writers. CONTENTS: BEFORE THE FRUIT IS RIPENED BY THE SUN • YOU, LORD, ARE BOTH LAMB AND SHEPHERD • YOU ARE SALT, WHICH, SHAKEN OUT • THE HILLS ARE STILL • GO TO THE WORLD • FAR FROM HOME • TO BETHLEHEM TWO STRANGERS • O RISEN CHRIST • LORD, HELP US WALK • A WOUNDED MAN • BESIDE THE ALIEN RIVER • FOR THE MUSIC • MEET THE WOMAN WHO ANOINTED • O GOD, WHOSE HEALING POWER • YOU ARE CALLED • FAR MORE THAN PASSION • ONE WITH GOD • GLORY GILDS THE EASTERN • CREATING GOD • LOVING SPIRIT • O GOD, YOU KNOW US • WHEN JESUS CAME • ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD • REMEMBER AND REJOICE • A CHRISTMAS PRAYER • ALL PEOPLE JOIN • BECAUSE CHRIST LIVES • CRASHING WATERS • MOTHERING GOD • HOW SHOCKING • IT STARTED WITH • O GOD WHO MADE • THEY CAME, A MILLING CROWD • THOUGH WE MAY SPEAK HYMN • WE PRAISE YOU, GOD! • WEEP FOR EVE • MARTHA MARY • MAY GOD’S LOVE BE FIXED • THE TEMPLE RANG • TELL ME AGAIN • AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE • COME, JOIN IN CANA’S FEAST • IN ALL OUR GRIEF • HOLY GOD • BLEST BE THE GOD • NOW, O LORD, DISMISS YOUR SERVANTS • SHADOWS FROM THE CROSS • STAY WITH US, LORD • REST, O CHRIST • THESE THINGS DID THOMAS • COME TO TEND GOD’S GARDEN • AND DID YOU RISK YOURSELF, O CHRIST • BLESS THE LORD IN PSALM AND CHORUS • CHRIST, YOU FORMED THE CHURCH.