Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 22:52:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Monk
Subject: a cappella Christmas rep

Choralisters,
Here is a compilation of a cappella Christmas music from you all. Thanks
for the input! Most frequently mentioned pieces: Distler Lo, How a Rose and
the Biebl Ave Maria.

Li-Wen Monk
damonk(a)ced.berkeley.edu
=========Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming - Hugo Distler
Ave Maria - Biebl
There is no rose - Paul Hillier (Fazer Music. Inc.)
Here is the little door - Herbert Howells
WHAT SWEETER MUSIC by Wayland Rogers 6 Minutes
LO, HOW A ROSE E'ER BLOOMING arranged by Wayland Rogers
Il est ne (He is Born)
Alban Berg Est ist ein Rose Entsprungen
Herbert Howells A Spotless Rose
arr. Fred Prentice Sing We Now of Christmas
Igor Stravinsky Ave Maria
Javier Busto "
Gyorgy Orban "
Anton Bruckner "
John Tavener The Lamb
Rachmaninoff Bogoroditse Devo (#6 of Vespers, Ave Maria text)
arr. Llewellyn Jingle Bells
arr. Luboff Still, still, still
JS Bach O Jesulein Suss (in Oxford Book of Carols)
Poulenc Four Christmas Motets
Vaughan Williams Wassail Song (SATB or TTBB)
Fum, Fum, Fum arr. E. Lojeski (Hal Leonard) - fast, fun, and slightly
different.
What sweeter music--J. Rutter (Oxford Press?) - SSATTB accomp., gorgeous
100 Carols for Choirs--edd. and arr. by D. Willcocks and J. Rutter
Baby, What You Goin' To Be?--Natalie Sleeth
Sing We Noel- Kirby Shaw (Hal Leonard)
Have fun--Norma Browning
"Out of the Orient Crystal Skies" R. Zgodava
Hodie, by Healey Willan (SSATB)
Carol of the Bells
Tis the Time of Yuletide Glee-Thomas Morley/Stockton
Whisper, Whisper-Althouse
Mitchell Southall - In Silent Night (a cap)
Healey Willan - The three Kings (ac)
Vaughan Williams - The Blessed Son of God (ac)
Robert Young - In Him We Sing (ac - Gentry/Intrada)
Robert young - There is No Rose (ditto)
Heavenly Light - Kopylov
E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come - Manz
Ave Maria - Rachmaninoff
O Magnum Mysterium - Victoria
O Magnum Mysterium - Poulenc
African Noel - Andre Thomas
Betelehemu - arr. Whalum

1. George Dima: Ziua ninge (Snow Falls Day and Night)/SATB, unaccomp.
2. Vinicius Grefiens: Three Christmas Carols/SATB, unaccomp.
3. Tudor Jarda: Three Secular Christmas Carols from Transylvania/SATB,
unaccomp.
4. Alexandru Pascanu: Festum hibernum (Festival of Winter) -- Ancient
Cyclic Customs/SATB, divisi, percussion
5. Adrian Pop: Vine hulpe di la munte (There Comes a Fox from the
Mountain)/SATB, unaccomp.
6. Trad./Arr. Dumitrescu: Angels We Have Heard On High/SATB, divisi, unaccomp.
7. Cesar Franck: Aria of the Archangel and General Chorus from the "Redemption"
Poeme-Symphonie/Sop. solo, SATB, piano accomp.
If you would like to hear some of these selections I would be glad to send
you a complimentary sampler tape and perusal copies.
Gabriel Dumitrescu, "Musica Romanica"
P.O. Box 27830 Seattle, WA 98125-2830 USA
MusiRom(a)aol.com Tel: (206) 364-4225
gabriel(a)u.washington.edu Fax: (206) 364-4569

The Alfred Burt Carols:They come in three sets, a total of 14 carols, all
SATB. Published by Shawnee Press, numbers A-449, A-450, and A-451.
William Dawson's "Mary Had a Baby" (SATB, Sop solo) published by Music Press.
For something earlier, the "Gloria" by Dufay.
In the English Tudor style, Orlando Gibbons "Magnificat","Nunc Dimittis".
John Jacob Niles traditional arrangement of "I Wonder as I Wander".
Shaw-Parker arrangements of "Masters in the Hall", "Fum, Fum, Fum", and
"Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella"

Our publication fits the bill - Si Me Dan Pasteles - a traditional strolling
song from Puerto Rico, for Three Kings Day, with or without piano,
percussion, SATB, in Spanish, arranged by Alejandro Jimenez. World Music
Press #06 $1.

If you are interested in spirituals at all, I can send you a copy of my
new one, "For He Was Born", which is rhythmic, with a few brief solos, and
is acappella. Send me a snail-mail address, and I'll mail you a free
sample of it. Ann Kapp Andersen

Esta Noche by Tom Cunningham (original Spanish text plus English
translation), very lively piece for SATB with optional 3 percussion.
Obtainable from the composer cflat(a)compuserve.com.
Merry Christmas Jazz by Tom Cunningham, fun piece for SATB with optional
children's choir, either "a cappella" or with piano, string bass and drum
kit. Published by Hinshaw HMC-1029. Version with symphony orchestra from
the composer cflat(a)compuserve.com.

Chris Marshall has written three Christmas pieces: All these use New
Zealand texts and as such contain references to a mid-summer Christmas.
contact him at

"A Day for Dancing" by Lloyd Pfautsch (Lawson-Gould) uses a ww trio
(flute, oboe, bassoon) and light percussion. Not strictly a capella, of
course, but the instruments do not double the voices much, just
establish tonality and meter (lots of fun changes here). I will admit,
we did not sing all nine of the movements, but I had never heard my
choir sound better than after having worked on this charming collection.
(Rev. Philip L. Seawell)
========

---

Thanks to all who responded--here is a synopsized compilation of my request
for a cappella Christmas music for an SATB chamber choir. I have cut and
paste, so please forgive the formatting.--Tim

Alfred Burt carols--many suggested these.

7/8 Deck the Halls by James McElvy

Now is the Carolling Season by Dorothy Preising

There Is No Rose of Such Virtue by Robert H. Young

My THREE MEDIEVAL CAROLS
would be perfect...originally published by Alexander Broude (Tetra) now
distributed by Bernie Fischer down in Florida
Judith Otten
judenote(a)aol.com

Hodie Natus est by Sweelinck is always great and works very well with
chamber choir.
Deck the Halls by John Rutter works well acapella in shopping malls or on
concert stage by either chamber choir or larger group

My chamber group always enjoys the LATVIAN carols Set 1 and 2 published
by earthsongs by Andres Janson ( spelling of last name may not be
correct) The set includes good singing translations if your group does
not sing Latvian. Carols are both lovely and lyrical as well as rhythmic
and exciting

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy - arr. Hatfield - SATB

Carol of the Bells - Wilhousky - SATB (Trad. Version)
OR

Carol of the Bells - Kirby Shaw - SATB (Jazz Version -
Medium to Medium Advanced)
OR

Carol of the Bells - Arr. Rich Manners - SATB (Jazz
Version - Difficult...but fantastic! - Published by
UNC Jazz Press)

Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming - Vulpius/Praetorius -
SATB

A Take 6 Christmas (I THINK it's accapella) - Zegree -
SATB

Check out "The Caroler's Handbook" by Mark Hanson -
SATB...it's a collection of traditional carols
rearranged to jazz settings. It's really great - the
kids LOVE them...and so do the listeners. It has
(maybe?) twenty different tunes. I really like it!

White Christmas - Shaw - SATB- with jazz sonorities

de Victoria's "O Magnum Mysterium" is a favorite. Combining it with his own
parody mass setting and the plainsong hymn makes a nice grouping.


There is a great jazz a cappella arrangement of pop Christmas tunes, arranged
by Kirby Shaw. It includes Frosty the Snowman, Silver Bells, Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (title ?)
I did it with my Jazz Choir. It's fairly easy, too.

Just to let you know that alliance music (houston tx) has recently
published my a cappella version of the Czech carol 'Rocking'.
Stuart McIntosh

Sing Ye Nowell Michael Jothen Beckenhorst Press BP1013-4
Masters in this Hall Arr. John D. Miller Harold Flammer A-6200
And Let Us All be Merry Wither, arr. Hruby Plymouth No Octavo
#
Boar's Head Carol Arr. Parker/Shaw Schirmer
Various Xmas Carols
A Renaissance Xmas Arr. Kirby Shaw Hal Leonard 08720994
A Baroque Xmas Arr. Kirby Shaw Hal Leonard
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Christiansen Curtis
8227
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Grotenhuis Boosey & Hawkes
OctB6542
Fum, Fum, Fum Arr. Parker/Shaw Schirmer
HL50305040
Happy Christmas Night Beck, Arr. Sateren AMSI AMSI #489
Past Time With Good Company Arr. Bennett Shawnee D-428
Resonet in Laudibus Z. Randall Stroope Mark Foster MF 553

O Holy Night Arr. Huff Hal
Leonard 08730040
Medieval Gloria Vijah Singh
Come Sing, Come Dance Linda Spevacek
I Wonder as I Wander Arr. Rutter
Psallite Praetorius, arr. Leck
Carol, Brothers, Carol Fast

The Three Kings (text: Dorothy L Sayers) for any four voices - published by
Gorgon V Thompson (part of Warner Chappell)

Past three a clock (text: traditional) for SAB and children's choir/solo
voice - new music to the familiar words - self-published by the composer

God rest you merry, gentlemen (text & music: traditional) for SATB (with
some divisions) - uptempo, humorous arrangement - self-published by the
arranger
Here's my latest creative news, for your interest... (following)
Paul Ayres
electronic mail paulayres(a)clara.net

Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium

Wassail Song.....arr. R. Vaughan Williams.....SATB (but splits to 8-part?)
>>Angels We Have Heard on High.....arr. John Rutter.....SATB (but splits to
>>8-part)

Well, there's always good old "Dona Nobis Pacem."

the Kings Singers arrangement of Jingle Bells is wonderful.
>>
>>several good arrangements of Joseph Lieber, Joseph Mein
>>
>>Allon, Gay bergeres

how about a "hodie christus natus est" either by poulenc, sweelinck or
>>willan? they
>>are all great openers. also, the "o magnum mysterium" by lauridsen is
>>wonderful.

The Carl Nygard Carols, published by Shawnee press.

There are many wonderful a cappella Christmas carol arrangements by
>>Shaw/Parker such as:
>>The Holly and the Ivy
>>I Saw Three Ships
>>How Unto Bethlehem
>>Masters in this Hall
>>Allon, gay Bergeres
>>Ya viene la vieja
>>How Far is it to Bethlehem
>>
>>Some other pieces (sacre) my choir has done :
>>
>>While All Things Were in Quiet Silence - Ned Rorem
>>Hodie Christus natus Est - Healey Willan
>>O magnum Mysterium - Poulenc
>>Hodie Christus Natus Est - Poulenc
>>There is no Rose - Young
>>Hodie Christus Natus Est - Sweelinck
>>A Spotless Rose - Herbert Howells
>>O Magnum Mysterium - Lauridsen
>>
>>There's a set of PDQ Bach arrangements that are quite amusing - O LIttle Town
>>of Hackensack, etc.

Brent Pierce: How Still He Rests

My wife is Linda Spevacek. She has picked out three of her pieces that fill
>>your requirements:
>>
>>Alleluia http://www.jwpepper.com/pdf/3192481.pdf
>>
>>"Here is an absolutely stunning concert work for SATB choir by Linda
>>Spevacek. First performed at the 1999 National ACDA Convention, this
>>glorious piece uses a stunning ostinato chant on "Alleluia," dramatic
>>musical lines, some simple divisi, and lush harmonies. With the grandeur of
>>a more challenging work, this one sings easily, enabling accessibility to a
>>variety of performing groups. Very highly recommended!"
>>
>>Jubilant Gloria http://www.jwpepper.com/pdf/3072691.pdf
>>
>>"An extraordinary a cappella work! From its opening fanfare to its
>>exhilarating conclusion, this is a dynamic, exciting piece of music, full of
>>rhythmic vitality and glorious choral sonorities. It offers a degree of
>>brilliance and drama seldom heard in an original choral work. This will be a
>>smashing success in performance, and we are proud to award it our very
>>highest recommendation!"
>>
>>This Day is Born Emmanuel (no pdf file at Pepper on this piece, but you can
>>order from Pepper)
>>
>>"A little know choral work by Praetorius is arranged here is a lush,
>>homophonic style,. The choral divisi throughout alternates textures between
>>treble and male voices."

I would highly recommend "Die Weihnachtsgeschichte" by Hugo Distler. It is
>>published by B”renreiter Verlag.

I really like Hassler's
>>
>>Verbum Caro factus est for choir can be echo.
>>also Sicut cervus (advent)
>>Poulenc Four Motets
>>Josef lieber, Josef mein
>>While by my sheep
>>
>>Even though it is a capella, consider a variety in texture and timbre
>>Men's choir on Tannenbaum, women on
>>I wonder as I wander
>>piccolo for Treble voices on Kodaly Danse of the Shephers
>>unison et c.

Long, Long Ago - SATB a cappella - Greg A. Lapp bp970902
>>This lilting Christmas carol was a First Prize winner in the Christmas Song
>>Writing Competition sponsored by the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, 1997.
Brosscum Publications
>>Lappers2(a)aol.com

Your acapella christmas sounds like fun. Have you tried Ave Maria, by Franz
>>Biebl? It is available in a number of configurations, most commonly done as
>>an eight part (with solo chants) mixed motet or as an eight part male motet.
>>Another choice piece is What is This Lovely Fragrance by Healy Willan.
>>
>>The Irish composer, Michael Mcglynn, has written a most beautiful setting
>>of S
>>ilent Night and a new (non-hackneyed) setting of O Holy Night (using the
>>familiar tune with cleaner harmony). His music is available directly from
>>his website which is >>HREF="http://www.anuna.ie/sheet_music_details.html">A
>>nuna Sheet Music. Here is a list of his Christmas Titles:
>>
>>Christmas Day SATB**
>>The text is from one of the ancient Irish Kilmore Carols
>>Good People All SSATB - easy version*
>>Good People All SATB - Soprano optional solo**
>>A traditional Irish carol in a new setting
>>Angels Are Singing SATB - Tenor Solo**
>>A humorous modern carol
>>Christmas Kisses SATB - with a low voice solo **
>>A humorous modern carol
>>O Holy Night SATB unaccompanied*
>>A unique, unaccompanied setting of the Adolphe Adams classic
>>Silent Night SATB**
>>
>>
>>I have ordered, performed and communicated with Mr. McGlynn. He is very well
>>versed in the choral idiom. His vocal group, Anuna, was the choral group
>>performing in the Grammy winning cast album (and live stage show) Riverdance.

>I wrote a jazz ballad arrangement of "Lo, How a Rose" that was performed a
>>cappella by the University of Pittsburgh Heinz Chapel Choir (John
>>Goldsmith). You can find it at my website: www.gregscheer.com.
>>

I just read your ChoralList inquiry - I have an arrangement of the French
>>carol "Quelle est cette odeur agréable?" which has been performed by (to my
>>knowledge!) Phoenix Chamber Choir (Vancouver), Church of St Andrew and St
>>Paul (Montreal), San Francisco Chamber Singers, Choirs of Bryn Mawr and
>>Haverford Colleges, a choir somewhere in Sweden (that's all I know!).
>> paul(a)wocc2001.org

The "CASA Christmas" title is accessible, with some nice variations on
>>standards and a couple fun things (like "Merry Christmas/Happy New Year"
>>sung to the tune of the Halleluia Chorus). The Swingle Singers Christmas
>>songbook has lots of luscious harmony, with plenty of challenges for a good
>>chorus.
>>
>>Good luck!
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------
>>Don Gooding
>>Mainely A CAPPELLA http://www.a-cappella.com
>>don(a)a-cappella.com

Take 6 A cappella Christmas!!

May I suggest several of my own pieces?
>>
>>Sweet was the Song, a beautiful Christmas lullaby in a gentle, Latin
>>American rhythm for SATB divisi a cappella.
>>Published by Hinshaw HMC-1226. In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1816826.
>>(A version for SSSAA is available from
>>Tom Cunningham, cflat31(a)hotmail.com).
>>
>>Dormi, Jesu!, a simple, original setting of the well-known Latin text for
>>SATB a cappella with optional (but
>>recommended) flute. Unpublished. Available direct from Tom Cunningham,
>>cflat31(a)hotmail.com.
>>
>>Merry Christmas Jazz, a sure show-stopper in a Christmas concert. With
>>optional jazz piano accompaniment or
>>can also be sung a cappella. For SATB with optional Children's Choir.
>>Published by Hinshaw HMC-1029. In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1717669.
>>
>>Three Christmas Songs, simple a cappella arrangements of three well-known
>>Christmas carols from Germany,
>>Spain and France, each in the original language: Ihr Kinderlein, kommet!,
>>Esta Noche (Spanish) and Il est ne le divin
>>enfant. Unpublished. Available direct from Tom Cunningham,
>>cflat31(a)hotmail.com.

The Oxford Book of Carols is a definitive source for good selections for you
>>proposed program. Also look at "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree: by Elizabeth
>>Poston

Timothy G. Cooper, DMA
Professor, Faculty of Education
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Canada, E3B 6E3
506-453-5082
506-453-3569 (fax)
tgc(a)unb.ca

---

Dear Choralist members,

Here is a compilation of all the responses from the message
below. Thanks to everyone for your help!

John Goldsmith wrote:
I am looking for a cappella Christmas repertoire for all
voicings . . . new and unusual pieces, or interesting arrangements of
standard
Christmas, winter season and holiday tunes . . . anything you have
found effective for public school, church, or community choral groups.


From: Paul Mark
Please do check out "Silent Night" by John Biggs. This is
not the
traditional version, but an original composition on the same
text. You may
actually hear a bit of it now by going to our Discography:
http://consortpress.com/Discography.html You'll see it
listed in the very
first CD shown there. The only other acappella Christmas
music we have are
"A Christmas Song" by Martin Agricola (Renaissance), and Mr.
Biggs'
"Bethlehem Down" for TTB. Let us know if you'd like any
perusal scores.



From: Linda Worsley
Try this: http://www.ganymuse.com/sb/


From: Mark Gresham
Mixed Unaccompanied:
LNP-0092 Jackson Hill: SURGE, ET ILLUMINARE, JERUSALEM (SATB)
LNP-0021 Mark Gresham (arr.): JESUS, BORN IN BETHL'EM (SATB)
LNP-0043 Brent Weaver (arr.): STAR IN DARKNESS SHINING (SATB)
LNP-0056 Karl Henning: ALLELUIA, Op. 33 (SATB)
LNP-0078 Karl Henning: ALLELUIA IN D (SATB)
Treble Choir, accompanied:
LNP-0081 Charles Knox: HIS PRAISES WE'LL SING (SSA, organ)
LNP-0132 Charles Knox: HIS PRAISES WE'LL SING (SATB, organ)
LNP-0102 Karl Henning: SLEEP YOU WELL (SA, brass quintet)
(full score and brass parts are LNP-0103)
arr. Henning: "Danby" ("'Tis Winter Now")


From: James Myers
Gloucestershire Wassail for TTBB that I think you'll like.
I also have a
setting of the first stanza of Poe's The Bells, entitled
Song of the Silver
Bells for SSAA which I think you'd like. We publish as The
Cecilian Singers
Press.


From: Margot McLaughlin
If you wanted to do something different for the Northern
Hemisphere, would
you like to consider the Australian Christmas Carols by
William G. James?
I'm sorry I don't know the name of the publisher, but you
could try visiting
the website of the Australian Music Centre at
http://www.amcoz.com.au./home.htm and I'm sure they would be
able to help
you. The pieces are arranged for SATB choir and piano, but
many of them work
just as well a capella. They use images from the Australian
landscape, flora
& fauna, and of course it is summer here at Christmas time,
so it's quite
different to what you would normally hear &/or sing in the U.S.


From: William Copper
My "O Magnum Mysterium", "Lullaby for Christmas", and "Soft,
Oh Soft"
are all new SATB works for Christmas, published by
Hartenshield Group
Inc ( www.hartenshield.com ). I would be happy to mail samples.


From: Monika Fahrnberger
Christopher Marshall [vaiaata(a)ihug.co.nz] from New Zealand
has some
beautiful "Summer carol" items that may be interesting.
Would you rather
have "folk" songs or "serious" music to perform? I may have
some suggestions
for each of the categories, is you let me know what you're
really after...


From: Jo Leighton
Lully lulla
A Hymn of the Nativity
Of a rose is all my song
The Star Song
Ode on the birth of Christ our Saviour
All the above by Kenneth Leighton (and all on a great
Hyperion CD 'O Magnum
Mysterium', 20thC Carols and Sarum chant by Polyphony with
Stephen Layton
conducting. Also on this Cd are Christmas


From: Jay Emlen
We have quite a selection of what you are looking for at
www.a-cappella.com. On the main page, departments, click on
Christmas. You
can then click on songbooks, or sheet music. There are many
different
voicings available as you will see. Hope you find something
you like.


From: Gordon King
I have a new Xmas piece which is just out from Shawnee Press
titled
"Wondrous
Night". MF0594. It is for SATB.


From: Ann Andersen
I wish you would consider my "For He Was Born", a Christmas
spiritual.
It's accappella SATB, peppy and enjoyable to sing, about three
minutes long. It's published by Jackman Music Corp., Orem, UT.
Their e-mail is jackmanmc(a)aol.com, phone for ordering is (800)
950-1900.


From: Melissa Bergstrom
I suggest Stephen Paulus' works. Mostly published at
Paulus Publications. www.stephenpaulus.com, I think.


From: Linda Spevacek
Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming SATB divisi College, lush,
sensitive Roger
Dean
Merrily Sing Noel! SATB and SSA madrigal-like, up tempo Heritage
Music Press
Riu, Riu Chiu TTB/TBB 2 Part opt. solos, hand claps,
Heritage Music
Press and 3 Partinstruments fun
A Festive Madrigal SATB and SSA madrigal-like,opt. a cap Heritage
Music Press
A Glad Noel SSA up tempo, opt. a cap Heritage Music Press
A recording of these may be heard on my website:
www.lindaspevacek.com


From: Don Gooding
Our publishing arm, Contemporary A Cappella Publishing, has
a book
called "A CASA Christmas." The unusual arrangements in
there would
be "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year" sung to the music of
Handel's
Hallelujah Chorus; and "Now Is The Month Of Christmas" sung
to the
tune of "Now Is The Month Of Maying." Fun, not terribly
difficult,
SATB.


From: Hans Riphagen
May I suggest a composition of mine: "Christmas Canon", 20
min on russian
orthodox text and for SAB. Parts of it can be performed also.
You can have a look at the score on the site indicated below.
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/jsriphagen


From: Ray Miller
two Christmas barbershop arrangements of the songs:
"Christmas is
A-Comin" (and the goose is getting fat) from long ago. I
arranged it for
barbershop and have sung it (with three others) to the
delight of
audiences. The other is entitled "Every Christmas Morning",
written by
Bob Godfrey, and arranged by the respected Lou Perry (recently
departed). It is a most delightful piece about the children
on Christmas
morning.


From: Stuart McIntosh You might like to look at three pieces all of which are
recorded by the St
Louis Chamber Chorus on their album A Chamber Christmas.
The first is a setting of the Dutch carol 'If Ye Would Hear
The Angels
Sing' by Martha Shaffer published by Oxford University Press
- this is a
gorgeous arrangement.
The second is published by Novello and Co (available through
Shawnee Press)
and is an arrangement of 'Jingle Bells' by William Llewellyn
- it's quite
brilliant!
The third is my own arrangement of the Czech folk carol
'Rocking' which has
some quite schmaltzy chording in the second verse and is
published by
Alliance Music (Houston, TX).


From: Adam Judd
If you are interested in a new manuscript, I will send you a
copy of a
Christmas piece I recently wrote using a text from "The Wind
in the
Willows"



From: STEVENLSCHAFFNER(a)cs.com
We just published 3 original Christmas chorals by John
Kernochan. These
are all charming works, 2 original texts and one on
Rosetti's "In the Bleak
Midwinter".
Schaffner Publishing


From: Monika Fahrnberger
As for the "folk"-items on the a cappella side: There are
literally
*hundreds* of very beautiful and moving "Alpine" carols,
usually scored
SATB, and very accessible.
To give you a few titles to start with:
Der Heiland ist geboren (from Upper Austria)
Ein große Freud verkünd ich euch (Burgenland)
Es werd scho glei dumpa (very widely known, Tyrolian)
Südtiroler Mettenjodler (also known as "Sterzinger
Mettenjodler")
and lots more, as I said before.
"Serious" items that come to my mind:
Puer natus in Bethlehem, chorale setting: Bach (chorale can
be done without
accompaniment easily)
Stella quam viderunt Magi - Jacobus Gallus (6 voices, rather
complex, but a
beautiful work, and hardly ever done)
Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine - Daniel Lagckner (same as
above)
Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Frieden fahren -
Mendelssohn
Das Volk, das im Finstern wandelt - Albert Becker (includes
"Vom Himmel
hoch" in the end of the piece)
Ein Kind ist uns geboren - M. Franck (double chorus,
SATB-SATB; very
beautiful and accessible)
Ein Kind ist uns geboren - Heinrich Schütz (the piece from
"Geistliche
Chormusik"; even though this one may be more beautiful if
accompanied colla
parte)
Cesar Bresgen - Das grosse Weihnachtschorbuch der Alpen,
Graz: Musikverlag
Styria 1972.
This one has maybe the best selection and would also contain
the four pieces
which I gave as good examples first off; besides, it has the
omnipresent
"Stille Nacht" as well. ;-)
Otherwise, I could also recommend a smaller booklet:
Komm, wir geh'n nach Bethlehem: Alpenländische
Weihnachtslieder von Advent
bis Dreikönig, Josef Preißler Musikverlag, 1979. Order
number 6134.
Or else you could get in contact with Österreichisches
Volksliedwerk, and
they may be able to help you further. They are at
http://www.volksliedwerk.at/, from where you can get in
touch with the
single provinces/regions of Austria for specific questions
and/or requests.


From: Linda Beaupré
Two of my favourites are:
Christmas is Coming arr. Lana Walter Treble Clef Music
Press TC-122 (ssa)
with a calliope-like vocal accompaniment to the traditional
round
Deck the Halls (in 7/8) arr. James McKelvy Mark Foster MF
605. This is the
number for the satb voicing, but it is also arranged for
ssa. It's a lot of
fun and very clever!


From: Gene Morlan
A Joyous Christmas Song (Chanson Joyeuse De Noel)
by Francois Auguste Gevaert (TTBB, SSA,
SSAA, SAB, SA)
H.W. Gray/CPP Belwin GSC 00011
Carol - Noel by Peter J. Wilhousky (SATB) C.
Fisher CM 6520
Did Mary Know? by Richard E. Averre (SATB) Presser
312-40289
The Godly Stranger by G. Winston Cassler (SATB)
Augsburg 1144
How Far Is It to Bethlehem? by Geoffrey Shaw (SATB)
Novello
29 0310 05
Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head Appalachian Folk Song arr.
G. Schroth
(SATB) Kjos 5361
O Wonder of This Christmas Night by Sven Lekberg (SATB)
G. Schirmer 11190
Silent Night arr. Malcolm Sargent (SATB) Oxford OCS 876
Sing We Noel by Pavel Chesnokov arr. Charles Hirt
(SATB)
Hinshaw HMC-219
Sleep, Little Infant (Entre le Boeuf et l'Ane Gris) arr.
Paul Hill
(SATB)
Coronet 392-41720
Still, Still, Still arr. John Rutter (SATB)
Hinshaw HMC-1376
The Three Kings by Healey Willan (SSATBB)
Oxford 43.214


From: David Griggs-Janower
Well, there's no shortage of things to suggest, is there? A few
recent favorites:
Frank Ferko - Motet for the Annunciation - EC Schirmer
Tom Mitchell - The Twelve Days of Xmas - can'tr ecall
publisher - a
fun, solid a cappella version.
Cassler - The Godly Stranger
Sing we Now of Christmas Fred Prentice - Gentry
Sweet was the song Robert H. Young - Gentry
To Him We Sing - Robert Young - Gentry
Leo Nestor - Before the Paling of the Stars - ECS


From: Paul Ayres
I have a few such pieces in my own catalogue
- God rest you merry, gentlemen (SATBdiv) arranged in a
slightly 'Cossack'
way (ie gets faster and faster...)
- Jingle Bells (SAB) simple arrangement
- I saw three ships (SATB) arrangement
- jollymerry (S unison, oboe string quartet) setting of poem
"The Computer's
First Christmas Card"


John Goldsmith

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Music Department

jgold1+(a)pitt.edu