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SATB | 3m30 | Intermediate

O Night, Restful and Deep in a new musical setting by Sara Garrard. A beautiful, peaceful song for Christmas, expanding into warm harmonies over four verses.

We will be singing this in the Sing Clifton Christmas concert 2022.

O Night, restful and deep
The Babe folded in sleep,
In a poor manger dreameth!
Moonlight softly doth shine,
Around melody streameth:
“He is the Babe Divine!
He is the Babe Divine!”

O Dawn, rosy and shy,
Greet Him where He doth lie,
At the birds’ call awaking!
As clouds fleeing from sight,
So all shadows are breaking:
”He is the dark World’s Light!
He is the dark World’s Light!”

Oh Morn, lovely and blest,
Round Him, guarding His rest,
Angels gently are singing:
”Hail Him! Heavenly Dove!”
Their notes joyfully ringing:
”He is the King of Love!
He is the King of Love!”

O Day, glorious the hour,
Jesus mighty in power,
Waketh in lowly manger!
He bids sorrowing cease;
Seek Him ever in danger!
He is the sad World’s Peace.
He is the sad World’s Peace.

words from O bienheureuse nuit, a French Noel, English Translation by K. W. Simpson

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SATB and piano | 2m45 | Intermediate

A new setting of Catherine Winkworth’s words, “A Spotless Rose”. The piece is SATB with piano, with a flowing, modal feel perfect for winter or Christmas.

A spotless Rose is blowing
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter
And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.

Words: Es Ist Ein Ros, 15th Century German carol,
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1869

as with Redeemer of the Nations Come, I originally set this as part of my Catherine Winkworth Songbook project.

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SATB unaccompanied | 2m45 | Early-intermediate

Thought to be Canada’s oldest Christmas carol. And recently, the English words have also come into the pubic domain.

This arrangement has become a favourite in our choir and we have performed it a few times.

English words Jesse Edgar Middleton. Original words and music Jean de Brébeuf.

Preview:

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SATB | Duration: 2m10 | Difficulty: Moderate

A new Christmas carol, in a traditional style, including a soprano descant for the last verse.

The words are an early 20th century English translation of a much older Polish lyric “W Żłobie Leży”, and the melody lightly echoes a more famous version of a translation “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”.

Tell, O shepherds, tell the story
Of the wonders ye have seen;
Of the King of grace and glory
Cradled in a manger mean;
Of th’incarnate Word most holy,
Lying In the stall so lowly.
Cum Maria Virgine.

How ye heard the angels singing
Canticles of holy mirth;
Ev’ry hill and vale a-ringing
With the chorus ‘Peace on earth
Peace and love end full salvation
Now is come to all creation.
Christus natus hodie.

He whom Seer and Prophet hoary,
Long fortold in time afore,
Lo, is here in fullest glory,
To abide for evermore.
Holy Babe we bow before Thee.
And on bended knee adore Thee.
Reddens laudes Domino.

SATB, some div, optional percussion | 2m30 | Early intermediate

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A dramatic a capella setting of Catherine Winkworth’s English lyric “Redeemer of the Nations, Come”.

Redeemer of the nations, come!
Ransom of earth, here make Thy home!
Bright Sun, oh dart Thy flame to earth,
For so shall God in Christ have birth!

Thou comest from Thy kingly throne,
O Son of God, the Virgin’s Son!
Thou Hero of a twofold race,
Dost walk in might earth’s darkest place.

Thou stoopest once to suffer here,
Risest o’er the starry sphere;
Hell’s gates at Thy descent were riven,
Ere thy ascent to highest Heaven.

How bright Thy lowly manger beams!
Down earth’s dark vale its glory streams,
The splendour of Thy natal night
Shines through all Time in deathless light.

Words: Veni, Redemptor Gentium, St. Ambrose; Komm Heidenheiland, Lösegeld, German trans. by Johann Franck; English trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1865. Thanks as ever to Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

Based on my solo/multitracked YouTube version — full choir, but similarly cinematic-medieval feel!

The words and melody of ‘Christe redemptor omnium’ are hundreds of years old. Here is an arrangement of the Christmas plainchant hymn for SATB choir divisi, the effect warm and full, building over the sevenfold structure of the piece.

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SATB unaccompanied, some divisi | Duration: 4m15 | Difficulty: Moderate (flexible, sustained singing)

We sang the original many times in Schola Cantorum and I fell in love with it.

Words:

1. Christe, redemptor omnium,
   ex Patre, Patris unice,
   solus ante principium
   natus ineffabiliter,
2. Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,
   tu spes perennis omnium,
   intende quas fundunt preces
   tui per orbem servuli.
3. Salutis auctor, recole
   quod nostri quondam corporis,
   ex illibata Virgine
   nascendo, formam sumpseris.
4. Hic praesens testatur dies,
   currens per anni circulum,
   quod a solus sede Patris
   mundi salus adveneris;
5. Hunc caelum, terra, hunc mare,
   hunc omne quod in eis est,
   auctorem adventus tui
   laudat exsultans cantico.
6. Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo
   redempti sumus sanguine,
   ob diem natalis tui
   hymnum novum concinimus.
7. Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
   qui natus es de Virgine,
   cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
   in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Rhymed English translation by
John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

1. O Christ, the Father’s only Son,
   whose death for all redemption won,
   before the worlds, of God most high,
   begotten all ineffably.
2. The Father’s Light and Splendour Thou
   their endless Hope to Thee that bow:
   accept the prayers and praise today
   that through the world Thy servants pay.
3. Salvation’s author, call to mind
   how, taking the form of humankind,
   born of a Virgin undefiled,
   Thou in man’s flesh becamest a Child.
4. Thus testifies the present day
   Through every year in long array,
   that Thou, salvation’s source alone
   proceedest from the Father’s Throne.
5. Whence sky, and stars, and sea’s abyss,
   and earth, and all that therein is,
   shall still, with laud and carol meet,
   the Author of thine Advent greet.
6. And we who, by Thy precious Blood
   from sin redeemed, are marked for God,
   on this, the day that saw Thy Birth,
   sing the new song of ransomed earth.
7. All honour, laud, and glory be,
   O Iesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
   whom with the Father we adore,
   and Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.

SSAA unaccompanied | Duration: 7 minutes | Difficulty: Moderate

Sheet music on SMP or Gumroad.

Four settings of texts by Hildegard of Bingen, individually each between 1-2 minutes. They may be performed individually or as a set. Written without any reference to the (still available!) melodies written by Hildegard — you could perform them in that context however…

1. O mirum admirandum
2. Vos flores rosaum
3. O virga mediatrix
4. O choruscans lux stellarum

More info: blog post

Clarinet choir version

This piece also exists in a version for clarinet choir, arranged by Peter Anthony Smith

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SAB unaccompanied | 2m35 | Not too difficult/some jazzy harmonies

A three-part arrangement of the classic song, with a gently emotional touch helped by rich harmonies.

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SSATB unaccompanied |Duration: 4m |Difficulty: Moderate-Advanced

Arrangement of the traditional Scottish folk song. Suitable for full choir or a quintet / small a cappella ensemble, this is a challenging arrangement that will reward with rich harmonies and interweaving lines.

A possible story being told through these lyrics (of which many variants exist) is of a soldier’s farewell – taken prisoner and sentenced to be executed, taking the “low road” home through death – to a friend or lover with whom he shared an idyllic lost youth. The verses tell of the beauty of the landscape of their childhood home and how nature keeps going, spring coming again each year, regardless of their trials and sadness.  

Here’s a longer blog post about this arrangement and its much-delayed premiere after 2020-21!