The language of this nativity poem is full of evocative imagery, picturing a babe with hair like fiery starlight. The music is delicate, moving, and mysterious, with options for colorful percussion.

Composer: Ryan Kelly

Inspired by processional music of the medieval period, this work includes hand drum, tambourine and triangle which embellish the ornamented melodic lines. The text, loosely based on words by Hildegard of Bingen, enhance the graceful and buoyant music.

Composer: Mark Sirett

In Katherine Tynan's Christmas poem, verses describing the bitterness and gloom of winter alternate with couplets describing the gentle miracle of Christ's birth. In Sheena Phillips' musical setting, dissonance and disquiet in the verses contrast with the sweeter harmonies and lilting endings of each couplet. This beautiful and poignant piece culminates in a joyful chorus of interlocking exclamations: Noel! Our Lord is born! Duration: ca. 4 minutes 30 seconds.

Arranger: Sheena Philips

A setting of the familiar lines from the gospel of Luke, this dramatic work for three-part treble choir incorporates optional orchestra for added theatrical effect.

Composer: John Burge

The Apple Tree Wassail comes from the cider country of Devon and Somerset, where it might be sung in the orchards or at the farmer's door. Wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon wes hael - to be healthy.

Arranger: Stephen Hatfield

This luminous setting of the 18th century Austrian carol depicts a scene of young shepherds preparing to visit the manger of the newborn Christ Child. Includes both English text and the original, more rustic German text in Austrian dialect. With piano.

Arranger: Wayland Rogers

Traditionally associated with New Year's Eve festivites, this Scottish air is also appropriate as a farewell at events such as graduation. First written down by Robbie Burns, this setting includes much of the original Gaelic, and is a song that embodies the unbreakable bond of friendship

Arranger: Mark Sirett

This contemporary a cappella setting of the traditional Latin text was composed as a gift to Judith Clurman. Edited by Ms. Clurman. Duration: 2:30.

Arranger: Wayne Oquin

An old Irish carol adapted with the composer's own recollections of childhood Christmases on Vancouver Island, Canada. This heartfelt song evokes natural beauty and childhood wonderment.

Arranger: Stephen Hatfield

This arrangement of an oft-performed holiday tune gives homage to the folk and gospel traditions, complete with the rustic flavor of the violin. The melody should be sung with simplicity and clarity of tone. Duration: ca. 3:00.

Arranger: David L. Brunner

Composer: Thomas Cabaniss

This sacred work for treble voices uses a standard AABA hymn form but with a contemporary harmonic pallet. The text challenges people to share the spirit of Christmas and its gift of Love every day of the year. Available separately: Parts for brass ensemble and organ. Duration: 3:15. Performed by Bel Canto Chorus, Children's Chorus of Washington with Washington Symphonic Brass, Michael Wu, conductor.

Composer: Michael Wu

From Queen's College, Oxford, comes the ancient ritual and the rousing holiday song The Boar's Head Carol, where the highly decorated dishes of the Christmas feast were presented to the company amid song, pomp and circumstance, with the great platter on which rested the boar's head given pride of place. This arrangement can be adapted and customized to suit various levels of choirs, and lends itself to staging a spirited processional.

Arranger: Stephen Hatfield

This lyrical Christmas anthem is composed in three sections with the opening section built on a melody passed among voices. The middle section is slower and the final section features the basses singing the melody with the upper voices floating above as if they were the angels gathering to witness the birth. Overall, the song speaks to the serene and delicate moments inspired by the original latin text Puer Natus.

Composer: Matthew Emery

This work portrays an imagined scene on an imagined Christmas Eve in which the children's choir of a village church is roused from their beds to process through the streets by candlelight and sing for the midnight service. The mood is giddy, excited and playful. Simply a delight to sing! Available: 2-Part. Duration: ca. 2:30.

Composer: J. David Moore

Designed especially for the Christmas season, this mass setting is easy to learn and seasonally specific, with each movement based on a well-known Christmas carol.

Arranger: Rupert Lang

A Christmas piece with a delightful melodic dialogue and beautiful accompaniment.

Arranger: Cary Ratcliff

This piece conveys an urgency for us to awaken and see the wonder, hear the joy that's brought by the rising of the sun. Angular melodies suggest fanfare calls, and asymmetrical rhythms propel the music forward. Sing with strength and authority.

Composer: David L. Brunner

This is a setting of a poem by Kerry poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice which beautifully captures the magical essence of Christmas from the perspective of a young child (If you don't like the snow you're old!). The music is energetic and the optional percussion adds to the vitality.

Composer: Elaine Agnew

This piece and its prayer of save me can be approached from a perspective of simplicity and serenity, or of deepest anxiety. The intention is that for all of the anxious undercurrents in the song, it could be sung quietly and devoutly in a Christmas Eve service by a soloist or choir of any age and any mix of voices. Duration: ca. 2:40.

Composer: Stephen Hatfield

Written as a twentieth-anniversary gift for Jean Ashworth Bartle and the Toronto Children's chorus, this new Christmas Carol sets the charming text by Ruth Sawyer in simple flowing diatonic lines, answering the question What will come to Bethlehem on Christmas morn? Duration: ca. 4:30.

Composer: Imant Raminsh

A traditional Québecois carol, this arrangement will immediately captivate your choir and audience. Its lullaby-like qualities are both soothing and entrancing.

Arranger: Mark Sirett

Based on the Cherry Tree Carol and O Little Town of Bethlehem

Arranger: Nick Page

This joyful Christmas carol from 15th century France may be sung in either the original French or in English. If a children's choir is used, it can sing the soprano part throughout. The words nouvelet and noel both come from the French root word meaning news or newness and this arrangement by Wayland Rogers is just that, fresh and new.

Arranger: Wayland Rogers

After a statement of the chorale in unison, Hal Hopson has taken the final movement from part 1 of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio Von Himmel Hoch and set it using the words penned by Martin Luther From Heaven Above To Earth I Come. Hopson has transposed this down a step from the original D making it comfortable for the beginning or amateur choir. Duration: ca. 3 minutes

Arranger: Hal H. Hopson | Composer: J.S Bach

Hanukkah is a celebration of triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality. This music captures this sense of joy and celebration in both the words and the music.

Composer: Dean Rishel

A joyous fanfare, heralding the great news of birth in the time of darkness. This piece is full of precise rhythms and should be sung with breathless enthusiasm.

Arranger: Lee Kesselman

This is a contemporary setting of the traditional Vespers antiphon for Christmas Eve, Hodie Christus natus est. The African and jazz influences found in this score were inspired by the composer's experiences in Ghana. Written for SSA choir, piano and Djembe(the Djembe is improvised and no part is included), this setting captures the multicultural spirit of the song.

Composer: Mark Sirett

This short and accessible Christmas anthem begins with a lilting 9/8 section, becoming harmonically richer and fuller as it builds to a joyous Gloria. With piano or organ. (3:45)

Composer: Imant Raminsh

Written for the famous St. Olaf Christmas Concert in 2002, this is a lullaby for the Christ child sing by his mother Mary at the manger. Mary gently rocks the baby Jesus to sleep while singing of this blessed night and this wondrous sight. Accompanied by piano this is a beautiful addition to any Christmas/ Winter Concert. When the optional string orchestra is employed this is the centerpiece of your program

Composer: Steven Amundson

Arranger: Doreen Rao | Composer: Michael Praetorius

With quick entries, question and answers, and interesting polyphony, this is a vibrant and exciting arrangement of a Christmas favorite.

Arranger: Brian Finley

The prayer of a child is simple and pure and this Christmas anthem for treble voices is just that. A wonderful and delicate selection for children's choir!

Composer: Paul Lohman

little tree is a song of transformation. It is about darkness turning into light, appropriate both for the Christmas Season and for the winter solstice, which marks the end of the long dark days of winter and the coming of the days of longer daylight. Duration: 3:40.

Composer: Daniel Brewbaker

or with Strings or Piano (Harp). Duration: ca. 3:20.

Arranger: James Helme Sutcliffe

Out of a single note, a single moment in time, arises the Great Mystery, revealed in the Christian tradition at Christmas time. After opening with a haunting unison chant, bass ostinato evokes the dry, dustiness of a camel procession in the desert, and an Eastern-sounding melody in the sopranos transports you to another time and place.

Arranger: Lee Kesselman

Based on an Irish blessing, this one-minute work may be performed in a variety of ways: SATB, as a solo, with unison voices, or treble or men's voices in octaves. It will be an excellent choice to close any holiday or winter concert. Duration: ca. 1:00.

Composer: Wayland Rogers

There is something magical about hearing a choir singing off in the distance, gradually surrounding the audience with sound. That is the effect captured in this wonderful advent processional. With optional tubular bells, the atmosphere of celebration will be palpable throughout your concert hall.

Composer: John Burge

This fresh, contemporary arrangement of the 15th century French carol includes oboe and tambourine. After a unison first verse, the parts intertwine and the oboe acts as a third voice. In French, with IPA pronunciation included.

Arranger: John Floyd Campbell

This fifteenth century English carol, originally titled Nowell, Nowell, Dieu vous garde has been recast in modern form although the ancient feel is still present. Vocal parts may be doubled by wind or string instruments and optional percussion may be played by separate players or by members of the choir.

Composer: Drew Collins

This a cappella arrangement can be done with female voices, male voices or mixed voices.

Arranger: Stephen Hatfield

The words of this old carol tell of the scene around the manger in Bethlehem, an assembly of gentle creatures and many children of all backgrounds. A gentle arrangement, with sincerity and warmth. (4:00)

Composer: Davi Brunner

Decorated with handbells, flute, tambourine and drum, this Medieval processional is sure to be a distinctive start to a holiday concert. Written around 1200 it lauds the donkey that bore the wise men's gifts from the Orient to Jerusalem.

Arranger: Lee R. Kesselman

This popular French carol sparkles with energy and joy in this accessible arrangement for unison or 2-Part voices. With piano, flute and optional Orff instruments or percussion.

Arranger: Joan Whittemore

Set to an early 20th-century poem, this simple a cappella work offers the joyous message of hope just when all seems dark.

Arranger: Wayland Rogers

Commissioned by the CBC and the choir of the church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, the composer has set the evocative Christmas text of Eliza Hewitt. The text is both majestic and intimate and the music conveys these contrasting moods perfectly. This will be a wonderful invitation to a Christmas Eve service or other seasonal performance.

Composer: Ruth Watson Henderson

Written for and dedicated to the Toronto Children's Choir, legendary Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson has constructed a piece that incorporates all levels of a broad based Community Children's Choral organization. Written for a unison training choir, a 3-part intermediate treble choir and an SATB advanced choir, this is the perfect closer for a combined Christmas Concert.

Composer: Ruth Watson Henderson

This tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Rudolph is written in Latin!

Arranger: Philip Brunelle | Composer: Johnny Marks

With Piano

Composer: Lee Kesselman

Composer: David L. Brunner