Carols for Choirs 1 (. . . for Choirs Collections)

Carols for Choirs 1 comprises 50 carols, mostly for mixed SATB voices, well blended from both traditional and modern sources as well as secular versus sacred. Several familiar texts such as "Away in a Manger", "Coventry Carol" and "I Saw Three Ships" appear in two different musical settings which will give choirs the ability to present a wider variety of music to informed audiences that might well be jaded with the more typical Christmas fare. Some pieces such as Mendelssohn's "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" or "O Come All Ye Faithful" are presented with the well known upper voice descant and oft heard harmonies that are so familiar it's probable even "con belto" fortissimo audience participants might be heard singing in four parts. In marked contrast, other pieces such as "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" or JS Bach's harmonization of "O Little One Sweet", while not requiring virtuosity, will require careful practice, study and complete attention to choral detail such as dynamics, endings and articulation in order to pull off a polished, crowd-pleasing a cappella performance. Highly recommended for regular choral singers and conductors. Paul Weiss