Four New Carols
 for mixed choir

music by David McCulloch O.S.B.
(Catalogue L025)

 
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Notes

Detailed performance notes, as written by the composer, are listed below: -

In this collection of carols, although I have specified the use of an organ, the keyboard textures allow for performance with a piano or keyboard. The carols could be performed by voices and keyboard alone. However, if the obbligato instruments specified or other high range instruments are available, I encourage their use, as they bring a new colour to these settings. By definition, carols have repetitious melodies, and often need a musical “lift” to receive a satisfactory choral performance. Since the obbligato instruments are solo, balance between the instrument, keyboard and choir needs to be carefully maintained.

Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day
The phrasing of the accompaniment needs to be maintained, or the necessary lilt to the accompaniment will be lost. This carol is by no means specific to Christmas, and the text (much abridged from the original) summarizes the Christian message of salvation. Therefore this joyful message should inspire the performance, apart from verses 4 and 5, where the crucifixion and descent into hell should be expressed with greater poignancy, matching the changes of key. At the resumption of the original key to express the Resurrection, the original joyful mood should return with even greater enthusiasm.

O Babe Divine
In this piece, the violin part is especially important (a flute would also be suitable) and the 3-part keyboard texture would be rather bare if there is no solo instrument. However, a tenor part could be inserted if there is no alternative. Following the mood of the expressive text is the key here. The male voices in verse 4 should darken their tone, matching the change to the new lower key. In the final verse, the joy of the heavenly kingdom should be expressed by a radiant tone in the voices and violin.

The Golden Carol of the Three Kings
There were originally only two verses to this carol, and I have written a third for greater variety. Maintaining a flowing but steady tempo is important: it would be easy to get faster with the regular quaver movement. Following the mood of the modulations within each verse, which attempt to reflect the brightness of the star of Epiphany, is important here. There should be an awareness of adoration at the beginning of each verse, and at the climax of the last verse, let the star of Bethlehem shine out in the voices!

There is No Rose
These splendid late medieval words with their various Latin refrains need a hearty performance! Apart from verse 2, where sopranos and altos share a delicate duet, the choir can afford to sing strongly throughout. The final verse receives its extra excitement with the Easter refrain “Alleluia” and the rise to E major, topped off with the high trumpet part, which should play in the most brilliant Baroque style.

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