Bethlehem Carol

Description

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass — Bethlehem Carol was the result of a commission in 2000 from the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The request came from the Cathedral’s music director, Russell Jackson; he had very much liked the Italian Fable cum Violin Concerto (The Big Sword and the Little Broom) I had written in 1997 for the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra. Russell chose the text by Charles Coffin, a French poet and educator whose hymn verses were often translated into English. My approach toward setting the poem was my usual one; that is, to translate literally the words into music (note the dips into the minor mode for “the cave of Bethlehem” and “the child of poverty.”)xa0 But most of all, I wanted to capture the sense of joy and peace brought by the arrival of the Christ Child. Paul Salerni's unique and meaningful compositional voice shines in this setting, where the words of a hymn text by a French poet are set in gorgeous, choral phrases. This lush holiday carol for advanced mixed choirscaptures the sense of joy and peace brought by the arrival of the holiday season. Certain to touch the hearts of all who hear it.

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