Part of the Anglo Music Play-Along Series, Philip Sparke?s 15 Intermediate Christmas Carols is aimed at the young instrumentalist who can play about an octave and a half and follows on from Sparke?s 15 Easy Christmas Carols. Specifically tailored to suit the individual instrument, this book introduces the developing player to the world?s most popular Christmas tunes by selecting simple yet attractive melodies that fit their limited range. The book will provide invaluable additional material to complement any teaching method and includes both piano accompaniment and a demo/play-along CD.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.