Carol of the Magi

SKU: AP.50862S

ISBN 9781470666750. UPC: 038081585369. English.

The Quest of the Magi was one of the working titles for John Henry Hopkins Jr.'s famous carol, We Three Kings. Written in 1857 for a Christmas pageant in New York City, We Three Kings tells the tale of the Magis' journey to find a newly born king in a faraway land and the precious gifts they brought with them. This piece focuses more on the journey of following yonder star. Traveling across many countries in the first century was a perilous task, full of danger, thievery, and possible death, not to mention these men were traveling with some of the most precious and expensive cargo one could possess. This piece chronicles the magi acquiring myrrh, frankincense, and gold for their journey. Each treasure is represented by its own motif and woven into Hopkins' original carol. (2:45).

SKU: CF.YPS186

ISBN 9781491147382. UPC: 680160904884. 9 x 12 inches. Key: F minor.

Journey of the Magi is a fantastical piece based on the well-known Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are. After an introduction reflecting the nobility and Eastern origins of the travelers, there are three contrasting settings of the carol's verse and two of the chorus. The royal caravan then fades in to the distance as the three Kings continue their journey and search.

SKU: CF.YPS186F

ISBN 9781491148082. UPC: 680160905584. 9 x 12 inches.

Journey of the Magi is a fantastical piece based on the well-known Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are. After an introduction reflecting the nobility and Eastern origins of the travelers, there are three contrasting settings of the carol's verse and two of the chorus. The royal caravan then fades in to the distance as the three Kings continue their journey and search.

SKU: HL.1413927

UPC: 196288196839. 6.75x10.5 inches. Matthew 2:6, Micah 5:2.

A choral art song, this expressive re-imaging of the time-honored carol is luxurious in its beauty. Approachable yet artful, this work will give directors much to contemplate as they strive for an expressive presentation. Restrained ranges and refined writing ensure success. This evergreen text never fails to warm the heart!

SKU: HL.35032266

ISBN 9781540027177. UPC: 888680746766. 5.0x5.0x0.15 inches. Joseph M. Martin/Heather Sorenson.

The Christmas story is told with fresh perspective in this collaborative cantata from Joseph Martin and Heather Sorenson. Throughout time, God has touched and motivated hearts through dreams and visions. Christmas Dreams visits these moments in scripture and connects the experiences of ancient times with our modern journey of faith, pointing to Christ, in whose birth the hopes, yearnings and dreams of all the world are fulfilled. Using traditional carols, newly composed seasonal selections and thoughtful narration, this rich work delivers a tapestry of sound and emotion. Share this cantata with your people and help them discover God's graceful touch in their lives! Songs include: Christmas Dreams Overture; Advent Dreams; The Promise and the Prayer; A New Morning of Promise; Zechariah's Song; Mary's Dream; All Through the Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The Magi's Epiphany; Christmas Dreams; A Gentle Christmas Blessing.

SKU: HL.35032264

ISBN 9781540027153. UPC: 888680746742. 8.5x11.0x0.908 inches. Joseph M. Martin/Heather Sorenson.

The Christmas story is told with fresh perspective in this collaborative cantata from Joseph Martin and Heather Sorenson. Throughout time, God has touched and motivated hearts through dreams and visions. Christmas Dreams visits these moments in scripture and connects the experiences of ancient times with our modern journey of faith, pointing to Christ, in whose birth the hopes, yearnings and dreams of all the world are fulfilled. Using traditional carols, newly composed seasonal selections and thoughtful narration, this rich work delivers a tapestry of sound and emotion. Share this cantata with your people and help them discover God's graceful touch in their lives! Songs include: Christmas Dreams Overture; Advent Dreams; The Promise and the Prayer; A New Morning of Promise; Zechariah's Song; Mary's Dream; All Through the Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The Magi's Epiphany; Christmas Dreams; A Gentle Christmas Blessing.

SKU: CF.CM9734

ISBN 9781491161142. UPC: 680160919734. Key: A minor. English. Basque Carol.

A Basque Carol (also known as Gabriel's Message) holds a special place in Western music. The carol originates from Basque country around the 13th century, based on the Latin hymn, Angelus ad Virginem (likely of Franciscan origin). The tune quickly spread throughout Europe, finding popularity in Britain where it was even referenced in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang; / and Angelus ad virginem he sang. . .. Interestingly, the melody we know and love today is derived from the original Basque version. In my view, this tune is a perfect example of melody-crafting. It is at once hauntingly beautiful, yet warm and joyous. Its contours are complex, dramatic, yet singable. I believe this melodic accessibility is the key to the song's lasting popularity. I would also attribute A Basque Carol's continued popularity to its elegant translation into English (by Sabine Baring-Gould, who rediscovered the original Basque tune). Translations often risk sounding unimaginative, coarse, and blunt. This translation is strikingly different. It was graced with an especially poetic translation including lines such as his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame. I am very excited to offer a new perspective on this classic carol, joining the tradition of composers preserving and reimagining a priceless medieval melody. My first goal was to create a flowing, richly-textured, even cinematic string accompaniment for the choir. This approach was very much inspired by the dense, string-writing style of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. My second goal was to make the arrangement flexible enough to be performed with only choir, only strings, or (best of all) both ensembles combined. To further complement this approach, I've added an obligato line for a solo recorder (solo flute or violin work just as well). If you listen carefully, you will hear a quote from my other favorite holiday carol, Jesu Bambino. I hope you enjoy performing A Basque Carol. I especially hope that you sense the ancient magic cast into this tune, hearing the ineffable qualities that have compelled us to sustain it for nearly a millennium. Whether you're a choir, a string orchestra, or a combined ensemble, this arrangement of A Basque Carol will surely be a haunting and lovely addition to your next holiday program!.
A Basque Carol (also known as Gabriel’s Message) holds a special place in Western music. The carol originates from Basque country around the 13th century, based on the Latin hymn, Angelus ad Virginem (likely of Franciscan origin). The tune quickly spread throughout Europe, finding popularity in Britain where it was even referenced in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales:  “Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang; / and Angelus ad virginem he sang. . .”.Interestingly, the melody we know and love today is derived from the original Basque version. In my view, this tune is a perfect example of melody-crafting. It is at once hauntingly beautiful, yet warm and joyous. Its contours are complex, dramatic, yet singable. I believe this melodic accessibility is the key to the song’s lasting popularity. I would also attribute A Basque Carol’s continued popularity to its elegant translation into English (by Sabine Baring-Gould, who rediscovered the original Basque tune). Translations often risk sounding unimaginative, coarse, and blunt. This translation is strikingly different. It was graced with an especially poetic translation including lines such as “his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.”I am very excited to offer a new perspective on this classic carol, joining the tradition of composers preserving and reimagining a priceless medieval melody. My first goal was to create a flowing, richly-textured, even cinematic string accompaniment for the choir. This approach was very much inspired by the dense, string-writing style of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. My second goal was to make the arrangement flexible enough to be performed with only choir, only strings, or (best of all) both ensembles combined. To further complement this approach, I’ve added an obligato line for a solo recorder (solo flute or violin work just as well). If you listen carefully, you will hear a quote from my other favorite holiday carol, Jesu Bambino.I hope you enjoy performing A Basque Carol. I especially hope that you sense the ancient magic cast into this tune, hearing the ineffable qualities that have compelled us to sustain it for nearly a millennium. Whether you’re a choir, a string orchestra, or a combined ensemble, this arrangement of A Basque Carol will surely be a haunting and lovely addition to your next holiday program!