New Carols, Premiered Carols, and Premiered Christmas Music 2021
Updated December 7, 2022
by R. Rojas
We are starting the new year off to a great start. As you remember, this is a running list and updated frequently. We have much to update you on. If we are missing your composition or if your ensemble premiered a Christmas work, please let us know by emailing christmascarolblog@gmail.com.
The BBC Music Magazine commissioned Grace Evangeline-Mason to write it's annual carol. She wrote "A Winter's Carol" both music and text. The score can be found at Boosey & Hawkes. The Concord Virtual Choir performs it below:
Olivia Sparkhall has published "This Holy Night" on Chichester Press
This is an arrangement of the traditional Irish tune, Londonderry Air. Suitable for Christmas carol services and concerts, the lyrics tell of the night of Jesus' birth, the visit of the shepherds, and, in the final verse, of the three wise men. The final verse makes the piece also suitable for Epiphany." - Chichester Press. See more information at Chichester Press.
Phoenix Chamber Choir premieres Hawley piece
The Phoenix Chamber Choir (Vancouver) premiered Laura Hawley's "O the Snow" on December 11, 2021. You can read more about Hawley at the Phoenix Chamber Choir's website.
Novello publishes Owen Park carol collection
Novello & Co. Ltd. has published Five Carols by Owen Park. The collection includes park's arrangements of "Adam lay ybounden," "The Holy Child," "A Winter Bloom," "Here is the little door," and "I Wonder as I Wander." A well-known name in choral circles, you can read a short bio of park on the publication's website: Five Carols by Owen Park.
Howard Blake premieres symphony
On December 19, 2021, Howard Blake premiered The Snowman Symphony with the Harrogate Symphony Orchestra, Bryan Western conducting. It was premiered at the Royal Hall Harrogate, UK.
Stainer & Bell publishes carols by Ian de Massini, Thomas Hewitt Jones, and David Blackwell
Stainer & Bell has published Ian de Massini's arraignment of "Away in a Manger." They have also published Thomas Hewitt Jones arraignments of "In dulci jubilo" and "Follow Yonder Star." For David Blackwell, they published "His Praises Well Sing" which uses the text of "Rejoice and be Merry."
Shorter House publishes new carol book by Louis Halsey
Shorter House has published a book of sixty-three carol arraignments by Louis Halsey. For more information, go to Shorter House's website.
Faber Music puts out new carol book
Faber Music has released Sing Carols! The Practical Collection for Carol Singers of All Ages. It is compiled and arranged by Harry Escott. Publisher's description is as follows:
Sing Carols! is a collection of traditional carols and contemporary Christmas songs for carol singers of all ages and abilities, compiled and arranged by BAFTA-winning composer, Harry Escott. Published by Faber Music, it is available to buy now.
Created to be accessible and easy to use outside, Sing Carols! encourages friends and families to go carolling together. Featuring many festive favourites, every song in the collection can be sung as a single unison line, and any second and third parts are specifically designed to be easy to learn and remember so that even those who can’t read music will be able to take part. With a view to encouraging groups to perform outside, all accompaniment suggestions are for easily portable instruments such as the ukulele and handbells and there are backing tracks available to download.
Harry Escott said: “To go carolling, singers often need to be able to perform with little or no accompaniment, which is a challenge. Add to this the fact that most Christmas music for unaccompanied choirs is intended for trained voices and it’s easy to see why, for most, carolling feels daunting. This is a great shame: there’s something particularly special about going out into your community and singing together as a group and I hope that this collection makes it possible for a few more people to experience that."
Carl Fischer's new carol publishing's
Carol Fischer has published several new arrangements and Christmas pieces. They include:
O Magnum Mysterium (SATB) - Evan Ramos
Coventry Carol (TBB) - Noah Reese
Ring, Ding-a Ding! - Michael John Trotta - Michael Trott's arrangement of "Carol of the Bells"
Psallite: A German Carol Celebration (SA) - Patrick M. Liebergen - arranged and combined two carols with Psallite and In Dulci Jubilo
New Christmas works off Banks Music Publications
Olivia Sparkhill's new versions of "Gabriel's Message" and "Ding Dong Merrily on High." Banks also published "At Christmas be Merry" for SATB by BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition Winner Bernard Trafford. Other new publications by Banks include:
"Balulalow" (SATB) - Paul J. Smith
Prelude on a Traditional Polish Carol (organ) - Vernon Hoyle - - "This prelude on the tune sung to the carol "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" could be used in a service, recital or as an organ interlude at part of a carol concert".
The
Manger is Empty: A Sequence for Christmas (SATB) - Sarah MacDonald
- The texts from Collected Poems 1945-1990 are by R S Thomas
(1913-2000)("Snow in Winter," "As among broken glass," "The manger is empty").
Two
Carols of the Nativity (SATB) - Alan Spedding, Paul Dewhurst (ed.)
- With an introduction by Dr Simon Lindley and edited by Paul Dewhurst,
this publication has been published posthumously. Includes 1. "I saw a
Maiden" (organ accompaniment); 2. "Puer natus in Bethlehem "(unaccompanied).
Bach Society of Saint Louis premiers Mack Wilberg Commission
The Bach Society of Saint Louis premiered "O Little One Sweet" which is based on J.S. Bach's "Jesulein süß," which was commissioned by the society in celebration of Dr. A. Dennis Sparger's 35th season as music director and conductor.
Chamber Choir Ireland premiers Christmas lullaby by Fintan O'Carroll
On December 19, 2021, Chamber Choir Ireland premiered a version of Fintan O'Carroll's Christmas lullaby "Suantraí ár Slánaitheora’," which Mary "marvels at the beauty of the newborn baby Jesus." (See Chamber Choir Ireland Instagram Post).
BBC Singers premiere new carol by Rodrick Williams and James W. Hall
The BBC Singers premiered "O Rex Gentium," an antiphon by Rodrick Williams and "Lisa's Carol" by James W. Hall. Both can be heard at this link: Afternoon Concert: Contemporary Carols on BBC Radio 3, although the show will be available for 23 days only after Dec. 31, 2021. We think they may also be available on Apple Music.
Finalists and Winner of the BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition
The competitors had to put "Love Came Down at Christmas" by Cristina Rossetti and over one thousand entries were submitted. There were six finalists. They were:
Helena Davis
Tamiko Dooley
David Harris
Stephanie Spragg
Michelle Turney
Megan Underhill
MacMillan's Christmas Oratorio premiered
James MacMillan's Christmas Oratorio was premiered his Christmas Oratorio, which had been commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. The performance included soprano Lucy Crowe and baritone Roderick Williams. See The Guardian's review. Read more at Boosey & Hawkes page.
On a sidenote, Boosey & Hawkes, in December 2021, published James MacMillan Choral Music: A Practical Commentary and Survey by Paul Spicer.
Composer Michael Paterson publishes carols
Michael Paterson has published a collection of Christmas carols he had written over the last 40 years. He published them as part of the Des Moines Metro Opera's 50th Anniversary fundraising campaign. Paterson said he inherited the carol-writing bug from his mentor Sven Lekberg. Patterson put together a collection of Lekberg's carols in 2016. The full story can be read here: Michael Patterson bundles his Christmas carols written over the past 40 years into a book and CD benefiting the opera.
Courtesy of tasminjones.co.uk
Tamsin Jones premiers new carol
Tamsin Jones will premier her "Noel: verbum caro factum est" which will be broadcast as part of Midnight Mass from Salford Cathedral (directed by Alex Patterson) on BBC Radio 4
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge premieres new carol at Advent Service
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge premiered Robert Jones' " Though once we walked in darkness" at their annual Advent Carol Services on Nov. 28, 2021. Jones' carol was the winner of Clare College Carol Composition Competition 2021. The carol is performed about 51 minutes in: 51:00.
One can listen to the service here: Advent Service at Clare College, Cambridge.
Emmanuel Music to premiere new carol by Harbison
Emmanuel Music stated on Instagram (@emmnuelmusic127) they will premiere a new motet "Sleepers, Wake" by their Principal Guest Conductor John Habison at their Nov. 28, 2021 Sunday performance. It had originally been scheduled to be performed at the Bachfest Leipzip in June 2022.
Recordare Choir to premiere new carols
Recordare stated on Instagram that they will premiere four "singles" including "Drop down ye heavens" by Anna Semple.
The Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge Advent Service premieres
Three new pieces were premiered at the Advent Service at St. John's College, Cambridge. They include a commission by the Herbert Howell's Organ Music Fund for George Herbert of "Oriens" by Anna Semple (b. 1997).
The second was the carol "Telling" by Helen Grime (b. 1981) on an anonymous text from the 16th century after Michael Finnissy. It was a commission by the Master and Fellows and this was its first performance.
The last was a commission from last year, a carol "Lo! The Desert Depths are Stirr'd" by Cheryl Frances-Hood (b. 1980) on words by Charles Coffin. The premier was postponed to this year's service, as it was not performed last year due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
One can hear all three pieces on BBC Radio 3's Choral Evensong: A Service for Advent with Carols, although catching it before Radio 3 removes it (about 30 days).
New carols in Oxford's 2021 New Music for Choir and Organ
Oxford has released an album of new music for choir and organ that has a recording of John Rutter's "Joseph Carol" and "I Sing of a Maiden" (see below); Michael Higgins arrangement of "Tomorrow, Shall be my Dancing Day"; Cecilia McDowall's "A Christmas Carol," and Malcolm Archer's "In the deep of wintertime."
Recording of new John Rutter carols
On November 12, 2021, Rutter released I Sing of a Maiden: Five New Carols from John Rutter. Carols include "Es ist ein' Ros' entssprungen," "I sing of a maiden," "Joseph's Carol" which premiered in 2020, and "Suzi's Carol."
They are recorded by the Cambridge Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The scores are available from Oxford Press.
Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Carol Commission Competition
We see on their website that the carol "Gather Round the Holy Manger" by Joyce Vickery was the 2021 winner, however we cannot seem to find a press release about it. The 2022 competition is open for submission with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. (EST), May 31, 2022. Composers who want more details can go to: Christmas Carol Commission Competition | Indianapolis Symphonic Choir (indychoir.org).
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, King's College, Cambridge
The new carol for this year's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge will be from Cecilia McDowell. Her premiered carol will be "There is no rose." See the choir's press release.
Update: McDowell's new carol was performed on Christmas Eve and live streamed over BBC Radio 4: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. You can still hear it but as always, BBC Radio removes items after 30 days or so. It will be available for 24 more days from Dec. 29, 2021.
2021 Sir David Willcocks Christmas Carol Competition
The winners of the Sir David Willcocks Christmas Carol Competition have been announced. The competition was founded in 2017. The judges are The Bach's Choir's current director, David Hill; John Rutter; and Sir David Willcocks' son, the noted composer Jonathan Willcocks. There were 139 entries into the competition.
In the 19-and-over category, Fernando Taberner won a Joint First Prize for his carol "Villancico Xicarrero." He shares First Prize with Thomas Neal for his carol "Out of Your Sleep Arise," which derives its text from the Selden Carol Book.
The 18-and-under Category First Prize was awarded to Christopher Churcher for his carol, "Before the Ice is in the Pools" with text from a poem by Emily Dickenson.
The carols will be performed for the first time at Carols at Adogan on Monday, December 20, 2021.
Paul Ayes new rendition of carol in new album of his works
Paul Ayres sent us a link to his "The Angel Gabriel" which is on a new recording of his music:
American Choral Directors 2021 2021 Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition
Duncan Tuomi has won the American Choral Directors Association first place in the 2021 Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition for "The Rose That Bare Jesu":
"The Rose that Bare Jesu"
BBC Radio 3's Breakfast Christmas Carol Competition
The BBC Radio 3's Breakfast Christmas Carol Competition is closed to entries and the judges are narrowing it down to six entries. This year's contest used the test of Christina Rossetti's "Love Came Down at Christmas." This year's judges are Jumoké Fashola, The Reverend Richard Coles, Karen Gibson, Anna Lapwood, Alison Mitchell, Ken Burton, and a representative from the BBC Singers. Read more on the judges.
Archer publishes new Christmas music
Malcom Archer published several new Christmas pieces on Encore Publications which include "The Journey" which appears to be Epiphany related, "What Child is This" written for Mark Ellieot and the choir at Christ Church, Bath, UK. More on Instagram @malcolm.archer.9659.
Resurrections
We created this section to talk about musical groups who have resurrected some of Christmas' lessor-known works.
Our first kudo goes out to the Royal Leamington Spa Bath Choir who, for their Christmas concert, cleaned out the closets with Christmas works from the local composers and former directors of the choir. These included:
Stanley Vann (1910-2010) - "Come, listen to my story"; "I saw a maiden"; "Jesu thou art welcome"; "On Christmas Day"; "Slumber, my little one"; "Sweet was the song"; "There is a flow'r sprung of a tree"; and "There is no rose."
Professor Martindale Sidwell (1919-1998) - "Away in a Manger; "God Rest You merry gentleman," "I saw three ships"; "Stile Nacht."
Paul Trepte "Deck the Halls" and My Dancing Day: Five English Carols ("While Shepherds Watched," "This Endris Night," "Coventry Carol," "Carol for Emmaus," "My Dancing Day")
Raymond Craft - "The Christs-Child Lullaby"
Janet Lincé - "Awake, Awake"
Lee Dunleavy - "Balulalow" and "The Robin Says
Malcolm Goldring - 3 Christmas Carols ("Silent Night," Lullay Lord Jesus," and "The Infant King").
The choir stated on Instagram that the portfolio was created in cooperation with the publishers and composers' family member. The music spans from 1939 to the present. You can read more: The RLSBC’s Christmas concert on Saturday December 11th included music by no fewer than eight of its Musical Directors, past and present.
Lee Dunleavy has directed the choir since 2020. For more on the go to Royal Leamington Spa Bath Choir.
Sue Fink song "Light of Hope" Performed
The Angel City Choral (@anegelcitychoral on Instagram) performed "Light of Hope" by their artistic director Sue Fink (@suefink9) with solo by Rev. D.T. Paredes (@revyrevv). It was performed at their holiday concert Light up the World. You can see a bite on the Angel City Choral's Instagram post for November 23, 2022.
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