for SATB unaccompaniedThe text is a beautiful poem by Clive Sansom (1910-81) that narrates the experience of the shepherds,drawn by starlight to the baby Jesus. The lovely,poignant melody of folk-like simplicity is supported by languid and atmospheric harmonies. The effect is a sublime marriage of poetic imagery and music.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Oxford University PressISBN: 9780193432963Weight: 27 gDimensions: 255 x 178 x 1 mmEdition: Vocal score
MEDIA REVIEWS
Bob Chilcott wrote this for King's College Choir in 2000 to a text probably by Charles Causley. For my money,this is the most beautiful modern carol there is. It brings on cascades of tears every time.There's a more overt King's College connection with The Shepherd's Carol. With this carol Chilcott joined the ever-expanding list of prominent composers who have been commissioned to write for the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. I rather think this has become one of the composer's'hits',judging by the number of times it is included on discs or live programmes of Christmas music. Rightly so,for it's a lovely piece,mainly gentle but achieving a brief,ecstatic climax.If you are looking for something new,exciting and challenging then this carol is ideal...Although this is a tricky setting,it is effective and lively.Chilcott's work seems to occupy an increasingly central place in OUP's choral catalogue,and it is not hard to see why,for not only is Chilcott exceptionally well plugged-in to the national and international network of choral folk,his music is versatile,with plenty of ideas - moreover,it is exceptionally grateful to sing. At its best his work has a sort of unaffected,winning sentimentality,particularly in evidence in The Shepherd's Carol. Though written for King's College,Cambridge,its technical demands are unexceptional,the music spanning a graceful arch from opening,folk-song like soprano solo through to appassionata eight-voice climax and back again.Bob Chilcott's The Shepherd's Carol is a masterpiece of the genre. The anonymous words are very evocative and add to the sense of mystery created by the music. If you have the forces,this would be an excellent piece to perform.
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