At the heart of this collection is a set of well-known hymns, arranged with thrilling descants and imaginative harmonisations by Sarah MacDonald. They will enhance the singing of hymns at carol services and Christmas concerts.
All of the carols are composed by women, including Charlotte Baskerville, Esther Bersweden, Kerry Boyle, Eleanor Daley, Tamsin Jones, June Nixon, Sarah MacDonald, Sasha Johnson Manning, Stephanie Martin, Yshani Perinpanayagam, Electra Perivolaris, Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, Lucy Walker and Alison Willis. The range of styles is distinctive and diverse with a mix of accompanied and unaccompanied works.
Women authors represented in the edition include Sharon Grenham-Thompson, Frances Harper, Edith Nesbit, Christina Rossetti and Yshani Perinpanayagam.
The anthology contains original pieces and appealing arrangements of classic carols. Most of the items are newly composed and published for the first time. Overall, the music will enrich and enliven the Christmas experience, providing rewarding repertoire for choirs of all abilities.
Carols of Our Time also includes a listing of readings and repertoire relevant for A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, as well as suggestions for seasons other than Christmas.
Contents
- Hymns
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: Come, thou Redeemer of the earth
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: O come, O come, Emmanuel
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: Of the Father’s heart begotten
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: Once in royal David’s city
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: It came upon the midnight clear
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: While shepherds watched their flocks by night
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: O come, all ye faithful
- arr. Sarah MacDonald: Hark! the herald-angels sing
- Carols
- arr. June Nixon: A lovely lady sat and sang
- Stephanie Martin: An earthly tree
- Esther Bersweden: Away in a manger
- Sasha Johnson Manning: Balulalow (O my dear heart)
- Charlotte Baskerville: Creator of the stars of night
- Alison Willis: He had not where to lay his head
- Lucy Walker: In the bleak mid-winter
- Sarah MacDonald: Love has come
- Eleanor Daley: On Christmas night
- arr. Kerry Boyle: Silent night
- Sasha Johnson Manning: Summer in Winter
- arr. June Nixon: The cherry tree carol
- Alison Willis: The three kings
- Electra Perivolaris: There is no rose
- arr. June Nixon: This endris night
- Tamsin Jones: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
- Ghislaine Reece-Trapp: Veni, Redemptor gentium
- Sasha Johnson Manning: What sweeter music
- Yshani Perinpanayagam: When God made Eve
About the editors:
Sarah MacDonald MA FRCO ARSCM is Fellow and Director of Music, Selwyn College, Cambridge. She is also the University Organist at the University of Cambridge, as well as Director of the Girl Choristers, Ely Cathedral. She is a Patron of the Society of Women Organists, an Honorary Patron of the Herbert Howells Society, and President of the School Organists’ Association.
Timothy Rogers BMus MA FTCL FLCM is a music publisher and composer. He founded Encore Publications in 1992 and works as its Head of Publishing. He is also the author of a book, ‘Christmas Eve at King’s: 100 Years of Nine Lessons & Carols’.
