Commissioned for Choral Arts Northwest who gave its premiere performance in 2011 under their artistic director, Robert Bode. The music is primarily contrapuntal in texture, and its tonal language features a certain level of dissonance but within a diatonically modal context. There is a textual climax about two-thirds of the way through, mirrored in the music; a short quieter section follows, leading to an ecstatic "Gloria" conclusion. Duration: 3:40

Composer: William Averitt

Written in 2010 in honor of the 30th anniversary season of Winchester (Virginia) Musica Viva, who gave its premiere performance under their music director, Kenneth Nafziger. The piece begins simply with an almost folk-like melody whose brief phrases are heard throughout, fragmented, varied, and recombined in counterpoint. The music builds to a satisfying climax before a quietly mysterious "alleluia" ending, returning to the original simple melody. Duration: 3:50

Composer: William Averitt

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

This arrangement is a re-imagining of Martin Luther's iconic hymn melody. New harmonies and ambient electric guitar accompaniment create an ancient/modern feel-giving new life to this classic hymn. Should you want to do this with piano alone, a piano accompaniment part is available. Duration: 4:20

Composer: Kyle Pederson

The Christmas Carol/Anthem A Spotless Rose for mixed voices by Herbert Howells is a setting of the well-known anonymous 14th-century text.

Composer: Herbert Howells

Composer: Gustav Holst

The text is an excerpt from the Salve Regina, also known as the Hail Holy Queen, a Marian hymn and one of four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons within the Christian liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina is traditionally sung at Compline in the time from the Saturday before Trinity Sunday until the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. The Hail Holy Queen is also the final prayer of the Rosary. Duration: 3:40

Composer: Michael John Trotta

Psalms 100

Composer: Gustav Holst

The text originally comes from Psalm 80:2. It is traditionally used on the third Sunday of Advent, the "Gaudete" or "Rejoicing" Sunday, when penitential exercises are suspended to symbolize the coming of the joyous Christmas season. The text, Excita, Domine, is also used in some churches for the "Stir Up Sunday," on which Christmas puddings are made and literally "stirred up." The beginning of the piece quotes the "Alleluia" from the original chant, and then moves from the austere to the joyful "Alleluia, excite" (Stir up thy strength, O Lord). The piece should move along quite briskly, symbolizing the joy and urgency of the text. -Jonathan Adams. Duration: 1:34

Composer: Jonathan Adams

Composer: Donald Waxman

Greensleeves

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Roger Nixon

Traditional American

Composer: Leonard Van Camp

Traditional American

Composer: Leonard Van Camp

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: David Colwell

This unique setting pairs the iconic Latin text with an new, original English text, which is a response to the question, "Why do we rejoice and shout our praises to God?" The music captures the energy, rhythm, and exuberance inherent in the phrases "Exsultate Deo" and "Jubilate Deo," but also reflects the quiet joys found in gratitude for the daily gifts of breath and light. The piano accompaniment is rhythmic and lively.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

Founded on the following traditional English Carols (1) The Truth sent from above (Herefordshire) words and tune, (2) Come all you worthy gentlemen (Somerset) words and tune, (3) On Christmas night (Sussex) words and tune, and (4) There is a fountain (Herefordshire) tune only, together with fragments of other well known carol tunes.

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Contents:
1. Easter
2. I Got Me Flowers
3. Love Bade Me Welcome
4. The Call
5. Antiphon

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams' popular work Antiphon from Five Mystical Songs. "Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King."

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: Allen Sevigny

This setting of John 15:13 John Ireland is one of the great classics in choral literature. Very strong melodic writing. Short solos for soprano and baritone.

Composer: John Ireland

Composer: Gordon Young

In the hope of introducing to a wider public this exceptional chorus from a little-known oratorio by Handel, new texts have been provided: one suitable for Lent, the other for general use. Handel's original text is also included.

Composer: George Frideric Handel

Brass parts include: 3 B-flat Trumpets, Trombone

Composer: Nick Strimple

Set of String Parts includes 3-3-2-2-1

Composer: Harold Darke

This new setting nicely balances the familiar with the creative, all the while treating the beloved Holst tune (and the full five verses of the Rossetti text) in a fully idiomatic manner for unaccompanied SATB chorus (divisi). There are touches of humor in the arrangement (a baritone soloist appears right where you'd hope he'd be, and at one point the basses sing sotto voce "Go, angels go!") as well as a clear intention to paint the deeper meaning of the text. This is a great addition to your Christmas repertoire. Duration: 4:30

Arranger: James McCullough | Composer: Gustav Holst

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: William Cutter

John Ferguson based this work on a familiar "Maine Shaker Hymn" by Elder Joseph Brackett and now famous lyrics by Sydney Carter. Partial text: "I danced in the morning when the world was begun, and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth; and at Bethlehem I had my birth."

Composer: John Ferguson

Composer: George Dyson

Composer: William Cutter

Composer: Stephen Chatman

Composer: Edward James Thompson

"This gentle spiritual from St. Helena Island is often associated with the Christmas season, rich with images of the manger and the star illuminating the skies over Bethlehem. But a unique turn is found in the final line of each stanza: 'People keep a-comin' but the train done gone.' Train imagery is often found in Spirituals dating from this era. For the slaves, trains were synonymous with freedom and escape-whether spiritual freedom as represented by the Gospel Train, or the literal freedom the Underground Railroad provided. This metaphor adds a poignant and uniquely human exclamation point to the celebration of the birth of the one who came to set us free." -Craig Carnahan. Duration: 4:00

Composer: Craig Carnahan

Composer: William Byrd

Composer: Russell Pinkston

Missa Brevis began as a wedding gift for friends of the composer. The Sanctus and Agnus Dei were written for that purpose in 1980. The entire work was completed over the course of the next three years. It received its premiere performance nearly twenty years later by the Elmer Iseler Singers, Lydia Adams director, on February 5, 1999, as winning the composition in the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition for that year. Kyrie, Credo, and Agnus Dei borrow directly from liturgical chant, or are otherwise inspired by the spirit of that repertoire. Missa Brevis is intended both for liturgical and concert use, and may be performed by a quartet or chamber choir. Duration: 14:00

Composer: Leonard Enns

Commissioned by The Wartburg Choir and Dr. Lee Nelson, and premiered at Christmas at Wartburg in 2019. This genre-bending piece- blending elements of rock, gospel, spiritual, and spoken word- is appropriate year round, but has special resonance in the season of Advent, when we wait with longing hearts- hearts at times filled with joy, but at times filled with heaviness. The text of the piece recalls iconic stories of rescue and promise in the Old Testament, and invites the chorus and listener to imagine those promises coming true today- and to imagine a world of mercy, justice, peace, and compassion.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

Featuring many unison passages and uncomplicated harmonization, this gracious setting will not take much rehearsal time. Both the melody and the words are by the composer. Partial text: "Now let us praise God and sing Our great redeemer's praise; That we may all with one accord Our joyful voices raise. Sing Alleluia!" Duration: 1:50

Composer: Gordon Young

At times mysterious, prayerful, and jubilant, this fascinating setting contrasts four soloists singing the text in English alternately with the chorus, which sings it in Latin. This piece was written to follow Monteverdi's "Magnificat primo tuono a quattro voci da cappella" from the collection Selva morale spirituale. However this Nunc dimittis can be performed alone, in which case the antiphon may precede it.

Composer: Robinson McClellan

The text for O Clap Your Hands by Ralph Vaughan Williams is from Psalm 47 with the marginal version of Verse 7. "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

This setting begins with a simple, unison singing of the "Veni Emmanuel" plainsong melody. Jubilant choral statements of "rejoice, rejoice" are interjected into the serenity of the verses to create a deeply spiritual experience. The piece is adapted from a larger work titled Christmas Joy for SATB chorus, audience/congregation, brass quintet, organ and optional percussion.

Composer: Stephen Chatman