Both a dedicated carol singer and an authority on the history of English music Nicholas Temperley here offers a unique book of 37 carols dating from the fifteenth century to the present.For over fifty years he has sung edited and composed carols each Christmas and in Christmas is Coming the fruit of his enthusiasm is combined with his wealth of knowledge to produce an outstanding and original new collection. As John Rutter observes in his Foreword the book does not pointlessly duplicate what can be found in many other carol books but has a personality and purpose of its own.Twenty-two fresh and practical arrangements include carols from Austria France Germany Mexico Poland and the USA alongside music both rare and familiar from the rich heritage of the English carol tradition. As well as eight of his personal favourites from J. S. Bach to Charles Ives the author includes seven new compositions of his own settings of medieval and traditional texts that reveal his skill as a choral composer whose command of style ranges from the humorous to the profound.In addition to sample programmes and translations there are invaluable notes on the performance and history of individual items plus an historical summary of the genre as a whole: everything in fact to make Christmas is Coming an indispensable companion for singers who wish to enrich the seasonal repertoire for concerts churches and traditional Yuletide carolling.

Music of profound beauty from one of the greatest vocal music composers of the past 100 years set to text by T.S. Eliot. This is one of Britten's five canticles and was first performed at The Maltings Snape on 26th June 1971.

Par DVORAK ANTONIN. The profound impression it makes on us is due in part to the sequence of variations on a death motif that seems to have been borrowed from the beginning of the second Kyrie from Bach's Mass in B minor. Written in 1890, it was commissioned by the publisher Novello for the Birmingham Music Festival and premiered there under the direction of the composer on 9 October 1891. For this performance, Dvorák used a copy of the score which he had personally examined and which later served as the engraver's copy. The Dvorák scholar Klaus Döge succeeded in tracking down its location and evaluating this important source for the first time. It contains the 'Fassung letzter Hand' and, moreover, offers valuable insights into Dvorák's conducting workshop. It served as the principal source for the Breitkopf Urtext edition./ Répertoire / Choeur

Christmas Cantata-It was into the shadows and winter of this world that Christ came to bring us the light and warmth of his salvation. The new cantata Winter's Grace from renowned composer Joseph M. Martin celebrates this great light andwashes the sanctuary with the message of hope peace joy and love using a program of candles scriptures prayers and music. The incorporation of familiar carols will engage the listener and ease the learning process. There is a full line of support products available to facilitate your presentation of this dramatic new work including a digital resource kit featuring art work PowerPoint visuals a Bible study practice hints interpretivemovement options plus a unique composer's commentary explaining some of the writer's perspective on the composition of the work. Includes: A Winter's Song Celebration for Advent Hop Peace Joy and Love Carols ofAdoration Let the Earth Resound With Praise! A Silent Holy Night and more