Arrangement: Parson Ted. Par PARSON TED. / Niveau : Difficile / Répertoire / Choeur (SATB) et Orchestre à vent

Arrangement: Parson Ted. Par PARSON TED. / Niveau : Difficile / Répertoire / Choeur (SATB) et Orchestre à vent

Carol of Burgundy. Here is a lively and intricate setting of the classic French carol that builds to a powerful close. In imitation of the flute and drum mentioned in the carol, the singers play back and forth with their ?tu-re-lu-re-lu's? and ?pat-a-pat-a-pan's? on interludes throughout the piece. After a straightforward first verse, the second presents the melody mysteriously, in pianissimo octaves, while a ?tu-re-lu-re-lu? ostinato trades off in the inner parts. The third verse presents the melody in a three-part canon, and finally, anchored by a powerful 3-part women's texture reminiscent of Britten's This Little Babe, the fourth verse rises to a powerful and rafter-raising conclusion.

This carol by the leading Finnish composer of his generation was commissioned by King’s College Cambridge and first performed at A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in 2010. Rautavaara’s mystical style comes through in the parallel textures and shifting tonality. Christmas Carol is a challenging but entirely rewarding contemporary carol for choirs looking for something a bit different to add to their repertoire.