In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

A Boy Was Born

Music by Benjamin Britten

A Boy Was Born (published as A Boy was Born[, Op. 3, is a choral composition by Benjamin Britten. The Choral variations for men's, women's and boys' voices, unaccompanied (organ ad lib) was originally composed from 1932 to 1933. It was first performed on 23 February 1934 as a BBC broadcast. Britten revised the work in 1955. The composer set different texts related to Christmas to music as theme and variations, scored for an a cappella choir with boys' voices.

Release Date: 1932

A Boy Was Born

No. 3 in the three movement work Nativity Suite (each movement published separately), in this setting of the traditional 16th century poem, the instruments express the sentiment that animates the choir's words in ways that voices are incapable of doing. The repeated alleluias at the close of each verse are resounding exclamations of joy, with harmonies made up of as many as eleven voice parts.

Voicing: SATB

Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-2 of 2 items.

John Rutter / David Willcocks : Carols for Choirs

This is a selection of the best-loved carols and hymns for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter: 74 of the most popular titles from Carols for Choirs 1, 2 and 3, plus 26 titles new to the series. There are carols suitable for both sacred and secular occasions, and both accompanied and unaccompanied material. The Order of Service for a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is included.

Songlist: A Boy Was Born, A Christmas Carol, A Great and Mighty Wonder, A Merry Christmas, A Virgin Most Pure, Adeste Fideles, All Men Draw Near, And There Were Sheperds, Angels from the Realms of Glory, As with Gladness Men of Old, Away in a Manger, Away in a Manger, Blessed be that Maid Mary, The Blessed Son of God, The Boar's Head Carol, Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light, Carol with Lullaby, Conventry Carol, Conventry Carol, Ding Dong! Merrily on High First Nowell, Gallery Carol, Girls and Boys Leave your Toys, Gloucestershire Wassail, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas

Reginald Jacques (editor) : Carols for Choirs Vol 1

The volumes of Carols For Choirs have established themselves as the quintessential carol books for carol singimng around the world. Each volume presents a wide range of carols to suit every occasion, from well-known tunes superbly arranged to the best original compositions. 50 carols for mixed choir, including full text of the traditional Nine Lessons printed as an Appendix.

Songlist: A Boy Was Born, A Christmas Carol, A Great And Mighty Wonder, A Merry Christmas, A Virgin Most Pure, Adeste Fideles, All Men Draw Near, And There Were Shepards, Angels From The Realms Of Glory, As With Gladness Men Of Old, Away In A Manager, Blessed Be That Maid Mary, Blessed Son Of God, Boar's Head Carol, Crol, With Lullaby, Coventry Carol, Ding Dong! Merrily on High, The First Noel, Gallery Carol, Girls And Boys, Leave Your Toys, Gloucestershire Wassail, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, A Great And Mighty Wonder, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Holly And The Ivy, I Saw Three Ships, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, In Dulci Jubilo, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, and more

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-2 of 2 items.

Will Todd : A Boy Was Born

A new carol from composer Will Todd, written for a service of Jazz Carols at St. Martin in the Fields, London. Full of jazz inflections, this restrained and reflective piece will be a valuable addition to the Christmas choral repertoire.

Composer: Will Todd