for upper voices, SATB, and organ or chamber ensemble
On Christmas Night is a sequence of eight carols with a variety of performance options. Chilcott uses several familiar carol melodies within his own settings, which employ a wide range of styles and moods. A versatile and enchanting addition to the choral repertory.

In several of the pieces Chilcott combines an original tune of his own with that of a favourite traditional carol - I won't spoil things by saying which well-loved carols are included - and I think that this blending of old and new works very well. Chilcott's original tunes are good ones, too. I like the one to which he sets 'This is the truth sent from above', which opens and closes the sequence, and also the melodies for 'Sweet was the song' and 'O little town of Bethlehem'. There's a vivacious setting of 'Adam lay ybounden' and the penultimate setting, 'Rejoice and be merry' is joyful and exuberant. To some extent On Christmas Night is a case of old wine in new bottles; it's most attractive and I now think it works very much better than I did when first I heard it.

Autorentext
Bob Chilcott has become one of the world's most widely performed composers and arrangers of choral music. His compositional output reflects his wide taste in music styles and his commitment to writing music that is both singable and communicative.
He has been involved in choral music most of his life he was a chorister and then a choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, and was a member of the British vocal group The King's Singers for whom he made a number of popular arrangements of well-known songs from all genres.
As well as being a full-time composer he is also a highly acclaimed choral conductor. He has been privileged to conduct many choirs all over the world. He is Principal Guest Conductor of The BBC Singers and in 2019 he was appointed Principal Conductor of Birmingham University Singers. His music has been widely recorded by many choirs and groups including The King's Singers, Tenebrae, and The BBC Singers.

Klappentext

for upper voices, SATB, and organ or chamber ensembleOn Christmas Night is a sequence of eight carols with a variety of performance options. Chilcott uses several familiar carol melodies within his own settings, which employ a wide range of styles and moods. A versatile and enchanting addition to the choral repertory.

Inhalt

• This is the truth (I)

• Adam lay ybounden

• A spotless Rose

• The Cherry Tree Carol

• O little town

• Sweet was the song

• Rejoice and be merry

• This is the truth (II)