The gentle arrangement of the Basque traditional tune, 'O Bethlehem,' uses subtly deployed drones to mark it as a shepherds' carol. The paraphrased text is suitable for general Christmas use, especially on Christmas Eve. The medieval English carol, 'What Tidings Bringest Tho, Messenger?' has question-and-answer dialogue between refrain and verses, making it very effective for pageant performance, as well as for church or concert use. Thie full, yet gentle setting of the beloved Christmas hymn, 'Silent Night' is perfect for a candlelight service or quiet concert closer. The low, rocking chords of the background choral parts are the same for all three stanzas. Interest is built by the addition of a second-stanza solo and third-stanza descants. Experiment with assigning the descants to instruments, or with supporting or replacing the lower voices with organ. |
