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FOUR SONGS OF THE NATIVITY(for chorus and brass ensemble) op.415 (July 1990)
A cycle of late mediaeval songs
Commissioned by: The Book ClubInstrumentation: 4 tpt.3 trbn.tuba
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Medieval and macaronic texts translated by Brian Stone
Duration: 15 mins
First Performance: Composer's note: Sir David Willcocks was conducting a complete concert of Christmas music in St Paul's Cathedral on 13th December 1990 with the Bach Choir and London Brass in which the first performance of the work was featured. At the last minute he very graciously asked me if I would like to conduct the work, which was a great delight, standing right under the Dome in that immense acoustic with such wonderful voices.
Sheet Music Available
Full score for saleOrgan / vocal score for sale
Instrumental parts for hire
Movements
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1:
Holy Mary, Mother Mild
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2:
Of a Rose is all my Song
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3:
Jesu, Son Most Sweet and Dear
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4:
Let us gather Hand in Hand
Notes
The mediaeval joy in faith finds its best expression in lyrics on the Nativity and on the role of the Virgin Mary. The ideas of unique birth and everlasting triumph over death combine to remove all darkness, so that Hell is no more than a hazard which Our Lady helps us circumvent. Winter and long nights are forgotten in Her magical dance-song, and the Middle Ages' burning sense of Sin itself is lost in ecstatic reloicing.
1. 'Holy Mary, Mother Mild' is Macaronic, a verse in two languages, Latin and English, where the Latin acts as a burden to the main poem in English.
2.'Of a Rose is all my Song' is a Nativity carol in the Trouvere style comparing the Virgin Mary to a beautiful rose.
3. 'Jesu Son Most Sweet and Dear' is the Virgin's song to the Christ-Child and takes an imaginative leap into the Virgin's experience, portraying tenderness and simplicity.
4.'Let us Gather Hand in Hand' is thought to be the earliest carol discovered in English, appearing in a Franciscan list of sermon outlines written not later than 1350. The refrain conveys the manner of its performance and the joy of the occasion.
The poems were translated by Brian Stone and are reproduced by permission of Penguin Books Ltd from 'Mediaeval English Verse' 1964.
Performances
| 15th December 2007 | Cambridge Philharmonic Society, Prime Brass, Emmanuel United Reform Church |
| January 1991 | The Bach Choir, St. George's Windsor |
| 23rd December 1990 | The Bach Choir, Royal Albert Hall |
| 19th December 1990 | The Bach Choir, Fairfield Hall |
| 16th December 1990 | The Bach Choir, Royal Albert Hall |
Related Works
'Holy Mary, Mother Mild (original version)'
op.238
(October 1976)
A late mediaeval poem of the nativity for tenor and piano (or string quartet) later adapted as one of the 'Four Songs of the Nativity), see op.415
A late mediaeval poem of the nativity for tenor and piano (or string quartet) later adapted as one of the 'Four Songs of the Nativity), see op.415
'Of A Rose Is All My Song'
op.241
(December 1976)
A late mediaeval poem of the nativity for bass and piano (or string quartet) later adapted as one of the Four Songs of the Nativity, see op.415
A late mediaeval poem of the nativity for bass and piano (or string quartet) later adapted as one of the Four Songs of the Nativity, see op.415
'Four Songs Of The Nativity (For chorus and brass quintet)'
op.531
(October 2002)
A work for chorus and 8 brass re-arranged for 5 brass, see op.415
A work for chorus and 8 brass re-arranged for 5 brass, see op.415
'Four Songs Of The Nativity (arranged for choir and woodwind)'
op.544
(November 2004)
A cycle of 4 Nativity songs
A cycle of 4 Nativity songs