Repertoire

Repertoire
Scores for the
Celebrating 500
Season
Years:of Light: December Repertoire
HeinrichE. Isaac’s
Marian Dolan Choralis Constantinus
James D. Feiszli

If you would like to write an article and

submit it for possible publication in this
section
Please contact Marian Dolan, Editor
Email: [email protected]
Scores for the Season of Light
December Repertoire

Marian E. Dolan
Choral Conductor

As I write this article, it is August here in Florida, so the sunny days Truth be told, there is one Christmas cd I play every year, starting
in about October. No, it's not even choral ... it's Anne Sofie von
37
are long, the beach is quiet and welcoming, and the temperatures are
very warm. I'm engaged in a summer choral ritual that musically Otter's "Home for Christmas." Talk about 'fresh' arrangements of
defies these hot temperatures: searching for December 'holiday' traditional December music! The cd opens and closes with
music with its images of snow, darkness, candlelight and wintry "Koppången," an exquisite melding of Pererik Moraeus' lyric music
scenes! By the time you read this article, many of you will already be with Py Bäckman's text: images of warm candlelight and silent
performing your December concerts. So why, you may ask, am I darkness, of cold snow and inner warmth, of hearing a choir singing
writing a review of December 'holiday' music for the year-end issue "through the darkness and the ice." Thank you Robert Sund for
of the ICB? So that you have a 'jump start' on next year's holiday writing a beautiful new choral arrangement of "Koppången"! Three
programming! Hopefully, you'll have lots of time to look up some of versions - mixed choir (SKG-10221), male choir (GE-11265) or
these pieces, listen to them, and get some creative ideas for next female choir (GE-11264) all with Swedish text (4'30; Gehrmans
season's concerts. Every conductor has favorite December scores, Musikförlag).
whether spiritual and mystic or light-filled and joyous. So if you have Last summer I 'discovered' a score that I can only describe as
a favorite and would like to have it included in a future article, then leaving me breathless when I first heard it, and I can't wait to
please send me an email and tell me about it. Ok, so now on to the perform it again – a gorgeous, new arrangement of a very, very classic
music, starting with a couple of my favorites! carol: "What Child is This?" by Grant Cochran, conductor of the
Anchorage (Alaska, USA) Symphony Chorus. Both satb or the ssa
versions are available from ECS Publishing, with accompaniment by
either solo piano or full orchestra. If you conduct a symphonic
chorus that performs on orchestral holiday concerts, program this
piece. I did. The orchestral musicians loved it as much as the singers
and listeners! The score opens with a soft piano solo, gently adding

Pererik Moraeus; arr., R. Sund - "Koppången" Grant Cochran - "What Child is This?"

ICB Repertoire
 Repertoire
...Scores for the Season of Light

38 oboe, strings and chorus, with soaring horn lines and very lyric string
writing. Grant uses subtle rhythmic shifts from triple to duple,
Diane Loomer, conductor of Canada's Cor Leoni male choir and
co-conductor of Elektra women's choir, arranged "Behold,
gorgeous counter-melodies, tender interludes, and an amazing climax Emmanuel" as a 'choral fantasia' on Veni, Emmanuel for the
that ebbs back into the gentlest of closings. This score is a gem. The Vancouver Chamber Choir. Diane frames the main "Veni" section
dedication, "To Lorna" reveals a sweet story: Grant wrote this score with a fanfare-like opening on "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and
as a wedding gift to his wife. What a gift! You don't have to take my bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" and a quiet
word for this beautiful piece. Go to closing on "O come, behold, Emmanuel." The middle section, in
www.ecspublishing.com/NIspr07.html scroll down and you'll find a Latin and English, sets divisi male then female voices over drones,
link to a pdf of the satb/piano score; it has an imbedded mp3 file. with the final verse tutti homophonic. Beautiful voice-leading and
Download the score, click on the "listen" box, and you can read and subtle changes of expression will challenge a good chamber choir
listen! (6'30; satb #6698; ssa #6700; full scores and parts, contact (satb a cappella; 5'; text Latin and English; Cypress Choral Music,
ECS Publishing). CP-1002).
Most conductors will appreciate and seek out 'fresh' versions of Certainly a popular historic piece for December programming is
classic, traditional, or historic December melodies such as the ancient the beautiful carol "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen," especially German
"Veni Emmanuel" chant. A new ssaattbb a cappella concert setting composer Michael Praetorius' 1609 harmonization. Hundreds of
("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"; 5') by Jocelyn Hagen is both arrangements of this carol exist today, from Vulpius to Distler to
mysterious and vibrant. The first two verses have overlapping Craig Johnson's combination of "Est ist ein Rose" with "The Rose"
fragments of the melody, initially by chorus then by soloists over a (yes, Bette Midler's song; #50486409, G. Schirmer). But surely one
lush choral background, leading into a resounding "rejoice!" refrain. of the most beautiful and contemplative is that by Swede Jan
As the composer explains: "The true climax occurs in m. 64, when Sandström. He writes that his "Det är en ros utsprungen" is "one of
the choir unites in homophonic texture to sing "O come, Desire of [my] most devout works ... seeming to form a link with an inner,
nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and gentle world, the emotional abstract." A small or solo satb quartet
discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace." The score sings the chorale phrase by phrase over 8-part larger choir quietly
ends with a gentle and very haunting, breathless close. Go to humming a sustained harmonic fabric of close harmonies with slowly
www.graphitepublishing.com/Music/H004.html to see/hear a score evolving/resolving dissonances, as if imaging a blooming flower (satb
preview. Women's chorus directors may want to look at her "Ave x2 divisi; 4'; Sveriges Körförbunds Förlag #403 in Swedish, or
maris stella" setting (a cappella; ssssaa; also Graphite Publishing). Walton Music #8500322 in English and German). Walton's website
has an audio file (www.waltonmusic.com/SacredSound1/lohow/).
December concerts provide a wonderful opportunity to bring the
music of a new cultural tradition into your choir's program. Looking
for evocative scores that musically embody the simple, direct peace of
the season? Then explore the unique music of Irish composer
Michael McGlynn, including many fresh arrangements of traditional
carols (Wexford Carol, Away in a Manger, First Noel, Silent Night,
Coventry Carol, etc.) written for the contemporary Celtic choral
ensemble Anúna which he founded in 1987. Two of his original
scores, both lullabies, reflect deep Celtic roots, both medieval and
modern. "Codail a Linbh / Sleep Peacefully" (solo soprano, satb
choir, violin and harp) uses an ancient Irish text in a
hauntingly modal setting. The music reflects the inherent
tension between "sleep peacefully, my child" and
"desperately poor, I came into this world to save wandering
exiles from death." Excerpted from his Celtic Mass,

Jocelyn Hagen - “Emmanuel”

"Clodhlaím Go Suan" is scored for satb choir, soloist, harp
 Repertoire
...Scores for the Season of Light

40 (or piano/organ) and optional violin. The contemporary text,

written by Michael, embodies the circle of life, reversing the usual
lullaby images to depict a larger human truth: "I sleep softly, my
Christ, I sleep softly in Your heart ... naked He stands at the dawn in
the new-born child, he is there at the end ... there is no one so full of
mercy and love ... I sleep softly in Your heart." The gentle ethereal
vocal line, with verses sung by soloist and unison female voices on
refrain, eventually adds full choir – untexted – as lush harmonic
support to the closing section. Listen to audio samples, view pdf's of
score, and order music directly from Michael's website
(www.anuna.ie/sheetmusic_index.html). Your order will also include
an mp3 pronunciation guide for Irish or middle-English texted
works.
You might be surprised to know that both Jean Sibelius and
Einojuhani Rautavaara (Finland) wrote Christmas pieces. Sibelius'
"En etsi valtaa, loistoa / Julvisa", #4 from his opus 1 Viisi joululaulua
/ Five Christmas Songs, is a simple 4-voice hymn-like setting of
Topelius' text, originally in Swedish ("Giv mig ej glans") which seeks
"neither power nor gold but peace on earth." Sibelius is known to
have sung these pieces with his grandchildren as they gathered
around their candle-lit tree. Today, you may hear this
sung by the Theater of Voices or by Rajaton. Einojuhani Abbie Betinis - "Prayer for Peace"
Rautavaara, known to choral musicians for the Lorca
Many of us send and receive holiday cards in December.
Suite and his All-Night Vigil, also has, in addition to his
But how many of us receive a carol as a card? If you know
Magnificat (16'), shorter Christmas works. Rautavaara's
the Burt / Betinis musical family, you would! In 1922, Rev. Bates
Joulun virsi / Christmas Hymn (1'30), originally a solo song, was re-
Burt, a self-taught musician, began composing carols and sending
voiced for male, treble or mixed choir. A challenging and fascinating
them as seasonal greeting cards to friends and family. Twenty years
work is his Canticum Mariae Virginis (7'30), a combination of texts
later, his son Alfred, a jazz musician, began his series of 'carol cards'
including "Ave maris stella," "Gaude Maria virgo" and from the
including "Caroling, Caroling" and "Some Children See Him." Since
Magnificat text "beatam me dicent ... / all generations shall call me
2001, great-granddaughter, Abbie Betinis, continues this tradition.
blessed." The composer describes his compositional technique as
For example, her 2004 "Prayer for Peace" was inspired by the texts
follows: "the middle voices form a sound field around which the
from her great-grandfather's sermons and speeches during the years
soprano and bass engage in an expressive dialogue ... parallel fourths
of World War II. Abbie's text reflects both his passionate hope for a
and simple melodies that often conclude melismatically." The
more loving world and his unwavering vision that a better place
resultant sound is extraordinarily reflective and mystical. Marjattan
exists: "Peace, the breath of peace is near, it calms and cheers ...
jouluvirsi / Marjatta's Christmas Hymn for satb or ssa choir (3'), from
Angels, o'er the broken, spread your silver wings, and help us to keep
the composer's choral opera Marjatta matala neiti, is a setting of the
sacred all the love He brings." You can view/hear/order these 'carol
last 'canto' of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The text is
cards' online (www.abbiebetinis.com/works_burtcarols.html).
carried by a runic-tune melody. Caring for her newborn son,
Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield is known for painting with
Marjatta asks the Creator to aid her "in these anxious days." (Inquire
an extraordinarily broad and well-informed multi-ethnic palate. His
about scores via Sulasol in Helsinki: [email protected])
newest December carol, however, is the simple and beautiful unison
"Christmas Day / How Long the Night Can Last" which Stephen
describes as a 'duet' between voice and piano. The vigil-like reflective
 Repertoire
...Scores for the Season of Light

42 text depicts evening silence and contemplation. Stephen

explains, "I love paradoxes, and this song portrays a
interspersed between the choral "O" movements, thus
creating an extraordinary dramatic narrative and
Christmas Eve that could be tranquil, or tormented, or contrast of scoring. A 'trio' of percussionists, playing
both." (www.stephenhatfield.com/ComingSoon.asp) See everything from vibes, crotales and gongs to darabukas
also is "Boar's Head Carol," "Gaudete" and "God-Bless and thunder sheets, accompanies the satb double choir!
Wassail". All scores at Boosey & Hawkes. Damijan explains, "Percussion instruments are not only
Programming concert music for Advent? These two colouring the choir's sounds, but also comment on the
extended works may be of interest. text's content, and sometimes even take over the driving momentum
Commissioned by Slovenski komorni zbor / The Slovenian of the music. I try to come close to the meaning of the words with the
Chamber Choir for a new extended Advent work, Slovenian choice of the percussion instruments: in O Radix Jess / Root of Jesse
composer Damijan Močnik took inspiration from Advent vesper only wooden percussion is used, in O Clavis David / Key of David
prayers – the "O" antiphons and the Magnificat – for his 12- mostly metal percussion." This is an extraordinary score for
movement Adventus Domini nostri Jesu Christi cantata (58'). Verses experienced singers (www.astrum.si #34.041; Latin text).
of the Magnificat, a challenging a cappella solo soprano part, are By contrast, the jazzy Advents Musik / Advent Music by Swedish
composer and saxophonist Anders Paulsson, is a three-movement,
ten minute Advent cantata scored for satb choir, soprano sax and
organ. The opening movement is almost a conversation between sax
and choir on Psalm 85:8-13. The middle movement (Mt. 6:6-13) is a
cappella. The closing section, a lively dialogue between sax/organ
and choir, personifies the "prepare the way" text (Mark 1:3,8).
Commissioned by a seminary choir in New York, the score is
available in Swedish (#1601271) or English (#16011272) from
Warner/Chappell-Scandinavia.
Challenged by the changing number of singers in your choir
during December? No problem if you look at Gwyn Arch's 'Flex
Choir' collection of Five Christmas Songs (Joy to the World, O Holy
Night, A la nanita nana, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Mary had a
Baby). Each arrangement can be sung by any voicing, from satb to
sab to ssaa to ssa or 2 part mixed or treble. The bass part has
occasional alternate notes for young voices. CD recording of all
scores is available (www.helbling.com).
Want to program some ethnically-inspired December scores?
Then consider these:
• African-American: Renowned African-American composer
Rosephanye Powell wrote an energetic gospel arrangement of
"Go Tell it on the Mountain" for satb choir and soloist, piano
and percussion (Hal Leonard 08703252). See also: "Glory
Halleluja to Duh Newbo'n King" (Gentry 2325; a cappella, satb
or ttbb, solo). The link at the bottom of her webpage has many
audio samples
(http://media.cla.auburn.edu/music/bio/bio_display.cfm?contact_id=13).

Damian Mocnik - "Adventus Domini"

 Repertoire
...Scores for the Season of Light

44 Based on the "Go Tell" melody, Moses Hogan's "Glory, Glory,

Glory to the Newborn King," is a typical Hogan concert
7531-2 Augsburg Fortress Press).
• Brazil: Deuel Duarte's "Gloria" is a vibrant setting in the Baião
spiritual arrangement: a cappella satb/divisi with tenor solo (Hal style for satb choir, piano and Baião instruments: accordion,
Leonard #08742097). William Dawson's "Mary had a Baby" triangle, tambourine and zabumba drum (in "Let the Peoples
from 1947 is a classic Christmas spiritual (Kjos; satb - #T118, Sing, vol. 3" Augsburg-Fortress Press).
ttbb - #T119). Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory's very popular "Go • Canada: Eleanor Daley's "Sweet was the Song the Virgin Sang"
Where I Send Thee" is a powerful gospel version of this spiritual scored for unison choir and piano or harp (HMC-1461;
(www.earthsongschoralmusic.com). Women's choirs can Hinshaw Music). Donald Patriquin's "Venez, mes enfants" from
consider Undine Smith Moore's "A Christmas Alleluia / Mary, Noëls Anciens for ssaatbb a cappella
What You Gong to Name that Pretty Little Baby?" (www.earthsongschoralmusic.com).
(www.trebleclefpress.com; SSAA/SSAA, ssa trios, sop solo; a • Estonia: Veljo Tormis, known for his use of historic regilaul or
cappella). runic tunes, sets such a melody from the Paistu region in his
"Jõulud tulevad / Christmas is Coming," a robust 4-voice (satb
or ttbb) arrangement. The text speaks about the excitement of
waiting for the holidays to arrive (SP Muusikaprojekt).
• Finland: Reijo Kekkonen's "Gloria" for ssaaa a cappella (Latin
text; Sulasol S-707).
• Haiti – "Noèl Ayisyen / Haitian Noel" by Emile Desamours
(satb; Creole text; Mark Foster Music MF-0582).
• Hungary: Jozsef Karai – "Hodie Christus natus est" for ssaa a
cappella (Edition Music-Contact 398198). “Adeste Fideles" for
satb (#197024; Edition Music-Contact).
• Ireland: David Mooney – "Don Oíche Úd I mBeithil / I Sing of a
Night in Bethlehem" (#5929; satb, S solo, harp or piano);
"Sauntraí na Maighdine / Virgin Mary's Lullaby" (#5960; satb,
harp or piano); "Wexford Carol" (#5936; S solo, satb a
cappella); EC Schirmer (www.espublishing.com).
• Kenya: "Natufurahi Siku Ya Leo / Let Us Rejoice This Day" is a
Taita melody arranged by Boniface Mganga; "Nyathi Onyuol /
A Child is Born" is a Luo spiritual composed by Enrico Oweggi.
Both for satb a cappella choir and percussion;
(www.earthsongschoralmusic.com).
• Korea: "Ososŏ / Come now, Prince of Peace" is a reconciliation
carol written by Geon-yong Lee. For satb choir, a cappella or
with keyboard; Korean or English (in "Let the Peoples Sing, vol.
3" Augsburg-Fortress Press).
• Latvia: Andrejs Jansons has a set of "Three Latvian Carols"
Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory - "Go Where I Send Thee" (Ziemassvētku nakts / Christmas Night; Meklētāja ceš /
• Argentina: Ariel Quintana wrote a lively setting of the Christmas Rose, Ai, nama māmia / The Christmas Season) for
satb a cappella, and a set of "Two Latvian Carols" (Ziemas
svētki sabraukuši / Winterfest; Balts sniedziš / A Gentle
"Hodie Christus Natus Est" text for mixed double chorus or
satb and brass quartet (Alliance – AMP 0450).
• Australia: Colin Brumby's "'Neath Southern Skies" is for satb Snow) for ssaa a cappella (www.earthsongschoralmusic.com).
or ssa or sa choir and piano (HL Muisc). Graeme Morton's • New Zealand: "Carol Our Christmas" a book of NZ carols;
"In the Splendor" is for satb a cappella choir (#0-8006- New Zealand Hymnbook Trust (ISBN 1-86934-058-2);
 Repertoire
...Scores for the Season of Light

46 Christopher Marshall - "Christmas Carols [Jewel Carol; Summer

Carol] from New Zealand" (satb, organ), via the composer's
• Trinidad: Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield's arrangement of
"The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy" is a rhythmically contagious
web: www.vaiaata.com/choral.html concert version of this delightful Trinidad carol. The rhythmic
• Nigeria: Olatunji and Wahlum's "Betelehemu" is a Christmas pulse and calypso energy radiate from the pages via layered
classic. Scored for satb or ttbb and percussion, a cappella melodic lines scored in all voice parts (a cappella; Boosey: ssatb -
(#52744, Lawson-Gould Publishers). #6912 or ssaa - #6911).
• Norway: Knut Nystedt's "The Present Tense" from his
Magnificat for a New Millennium for satb choir a cappella Want a humorous piece that teases about recycling and being
(Norsk Musikforlag (#11531). 'green'? Then take a look at
• Poland: Józef Swider arranged twelve Koledowanie or a cappella David Moore's "Be Careful, Don't Tear the Paper / A Series of
Christmas songs in "Zwölf polnische Weihnachtslieder." Texts in Exhortations Concerning Thrift." To the familiar carol "We wish you
Polish and German (satb 7.148; treble 40.718; male 40.818; a Merry Christmas," David set Jean Sramek's very funny text, verse
Carus Verlag. one reading: "Be careful, don't tear the paper, be careful taking the
• Puerto Rico: "Pastores a Belén / Shepherds! To Bethlehem" is a tape off, be careful to save the ribbon, we can use them next year."
traditional Puerto Rican carol arranged by Evy Lucío. Scored You get the idea! For two-part mixed choir and piano
for ssa, piano, 2 recorders, tambourine; text in Spanish (#6284 – (www.jdavidmoore.net/works_mixed.html)
Kjos Music).
• Romania: "Three Christmas Carols (Rǎtǎciam / Wandering If you want to invest in collections of international Christmas pieces
Through a Garden; I-an ieşii / Come out, Noblemen!; Sculai / by composers from a variety of countries, consider the following:
Wake up, Noblemen!) arranged by Vinicius Grefiens for satb, a • World Carols for Choirs, (Oxford) – volumes for mixed (31 carols)
cappella (#XRCM-0024; Musica Romanica). Excellent and treble (29 carols) choirs. To view full repertoire lists, go to
information in the score. www.oup.co.uk and do a search by title.
• Sierra Leone: A traditional carol "Maringa Krismεs / Merry • Let the Peoples Sing, v.3: International Christmastide: Advent,
Christmas" (www.earthsongschoralmusic.com). Christmas, Epiphany (Augsburg-Fortress Press) – 24 mixed voice
• Slovenia: Maksimiljan Feguš arranged "Four Slovene Advent pieces from 19 countries.
Carols" for a cappella mixed choir; Slovenian text with • Hodie – collections of European works only; vol. 1 for equal
pronunciation guide in score; audio available from publisher voices, vol. 2 for mixed voices (Carus Verlag).
(Astrum 4.110/01).
• Sweden: Looking for the classic arrangement of "Sankta Lucia"? Marian Dolan serves as Managing Editor of IFCM's "Cantemus" choral
Try Hans Kyhle's a cappella satb version in "Let the Peoples series, and is IFCM’s chairperson for the Voices Conferences. She holds
Sing, vol. 3" (Augsburg-Fortress Press). In the same collection is MM, MMA and DMA degrees in choral conducting from Yale
Eskil Hemberg's "Swedish Christmas Carols" – three different University and was on the faculty of Emory University (Atlanta).
Swedish carols for satb a cappella choir, against which a solo Founding artistic director of The Choir Project based in Naples, Florida,
quartet is singing a verse of "In dulci jubilo." she also leads honor choirs, workshops, and repertoire sessions both in the
• South Africa: Composer Grant McLachlan describes "Come, U.S. and abroad, and has commissioned over 35 new choral scores.
Colours Rise" as "both a Nativity anthem and a call to all
Africans to unite in faith." Scored for satb (#312-41757) or ssa E-mail: [email protected]
(#312-41798) and piano, or orchestra, or organ/perc; text is in
both English and Xhosa (Theodore Presser). Please do not re-print without permission from the author •