Commissioned for Choral Arts Northwest who gave its premiere performance in 2011 under their artistic director, Robert Bode. The music is primarily contrapuntal in texture, and its tonal language features a certain level of dissonance but within a diatonically modal context. There is a textual climax about two-thirds of the way through, mirrored in the music; a short quieter section follows, leading to an ecstatic "Gloria" conclusion. Duration: 3:40

Composer: William Averitt

Written in 2010 in honor of the 30th anniversary season of Winchester (Virginia) Musica Viva, who gave its premiere performance under their music director, Kenneth Nafziger. The piece begins simply with an almost folk-like melody whose brief phrases are heard throughout, fragmented, varied, and recombined in counterpoint. The music builds to a satisfying climax before a quietly mysterious "alleluia" ending, returning to the original simple melody. Duration: 3:50

Composer: William Averitt

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

This arrangement is a re-imagining of Martin Luther's iconic hymn melody. New harmonies and ambient electric guitar accompaniment create an ancient/modern feel-giving new life to this classic hymn. Should you want to do this with piano alone, a piano accompaniment part is available. Duration: 4:20

Composer: Kyle Pederson

The Christmas Carol/Anthem A Spotless Rose for mixed voices by Herbert Howells is a setting of the well-known anonymous 14th-century text.

Composer: Herbert Howells

Composer: Gustav Holst

The text is an excerpt from the Salve Regina, also known as the Hail Holy Queen, a Marian hymn and one of four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons within the Christian liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina is traditionally sung at Compline in the time from the Saturday before Trinity Sunday until the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. The Hail Holy Queen is also the final prayer of the Rosary. Duration: 3:40

Composer: Michael John Trotta

Psalms 100

Composer: Gustav Holst

The text originally comes from Psalm 80:2. It is traditionally used on the third Sunday of Advent, the "Gaudete" or "Rejoicing" Sunday, when penitential exercises are suspended to symbolize the coming of the joyous Christmas season. The text, Excita, Domine, is also used in some churches for the "Stir Up Sunday," on which Christmas puddings are made and literally "stirred up." The beginning of the piece quotes the "Alleluia" from the original chant, and then moves from the austere to the joyful "Alleluia, excite" (Stir up thy strength, O Lord). The piece should move along quite briskly, symbolizing the joy and urgency of the text. -Jonathan Adams. Duration: 1:34

Composer: Jonathan Adams

Composer: Donald Waxman

Greensleeves

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Donald Waxman

Composer: Roger Nixon

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff

Composer: Roger Nixon

Traditional American

Composer: Leonard Van Camp

Traditional American

Composer: Leonard Van Camp

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: David Colwell

This arrangement of one of the most beloved spirituals begins with some Jazz-style scat singing in all the voices before the altos and sopranos begin the first refrain. The style shifts to driving, straight eighth notes to bring the arrangement to an exciting conclusion. Duration 4:17

Composer: Pasquale Tassone

This unique setting pairs the iconic Latin text with an new, original English text, which is a response to the question, "Why do we rejoice and shout our praises to God?" The music captures the energy, rhythm, and exuberance inherent in the phrases "Exsultate Deo" and "Jubilate Deo," but also reflects the quiet joys found in gratitude for the daily gifts of breath and light. The piano accompaniment is rhythmic and lively.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

This unique setting pairs the iconic Latin text with a new, original English text, which is a response to the question, "Why do we rejoice and shout our praises to God?" The music captures the energy, rhythm, and exuberance inherent in the phrases "Exsultate Deo" and "Jubilate Deo," but also reflects the quiet joys found in gratitude for the daily gifts of breath and light. The piano accompaniment is rhythmic and lively.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

Founded on the following traditional English Carols (1) The Truth sent from above (Herefordshire) words and tune, (2) Come all you worthy gentlemen (Somerset) words and tune, (3) On Christmas night (Sussex) words and tune, and (4) There is a fountain (Herefordshire) tune only, together with fragments of other well known carol tunes.

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Founded on the following traditional English Carols (1) The Truth sent from above (Herefordshire) words and tune, (2) Come all you worthy gentlemen (Somerset) words and tune, (3) On Christmas night (Sussex) words and tune, and (4) There is a fountain (Herefordshire) tune only, together with fragments of other well known carol tunes.

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Contents:
1. Easter
2. I Got Me Flowers
3. Love Bade Me Welcome
4. The Call
5. Antiphon

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams' popular work Antiphon from Five Mystical Songs. "Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King."

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

These texts are taken from the Kokin Wakash , a collection of Japanese waka poetry compiled from various poets in the early tenth century. They show the passing of the season from the first buds hidden beneath the snow to the last petals washing downstream. The simple melodies and clear textures attempt to capture the poets' graceful blending of vivid natural imagery and piercing emotional perception as the sights and sounds of spring are made to express the bittersweetness of our brief existence.

Composer: Philip Reed

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: Allen Sevigny

This setting of John 15:13 John Ireland is one of the great classics in choral literature. Very strong melodic writing. Short solos for soprano and baritone.

Composer: John Ireland

Unlike some published versions of this African American spiritual, McCullough's rendering is "not slow, but not too fast," in the words of the composer. Transcribed from his father's singing of this tune, this version is "always flowing, with joyous conviction and thanksgiving." The divisi designation is not to be taken lightly; in one place the women divide into five parts and sing alone, in another the men similarly divide into four parts. The result is joyous and emphatic. Duration: 2:40

Composer: James McCullough

Composer: Gordon Young

In the hope of introducing to a wider public this exceptional chorus from a little-known oratorio by Handel, new texts have been provided: one suitable for Lent, the other for general use. Handel's original text is also included.

Composer: George Frideric Handel

This work has the ethos of a spiritual, with the text inspired by "Amazing Grace" but not specifically using that text in sequence except for the title riff which reoccurs throughout the piece. It invites the singer and audience to consider the power of grace. The choir affirms that no trouble, no shame, no valley is too deep for the healing gift and power of soul-freeing grace. The music has a driving quality, with the choir occasionally backing up the soloist with humming, quick commentary, or a sustained neutral syllable. Unusual and energetic.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

This work has the ethos of a spiritual, with the text inspired by "Amazing Grace" but not specifically using that text in sequence except for the title riff which reoccurs throughout the piece. It invites the singer and audience to consider the power of grace. The choir affirms that no trouble, no shame, no valley is too deep for the healing gift and power of soul-freeing grace. The music has a driving quality, with a piano part that is marked "A little Blues, a little Rock," which rhythmically punctuates the piece. Unusual and energetic.

Composer: Kyle Pederson

Brass parts include: 3 B-flat Trumpets, Trombone

Composer: Nick Strimple

These settings present disparate manners in which to utter these two terse, yet potent psalm texts: from the sorrowful to the exuberant, the primitive to the elegant. The music reflects these wide-ranging interpretations with interchanges of contrapuntal and homophonic textures, ostinato and scalar passages, a broad harmonic palette, and the utilization of the full tessitura of the chorus. Duration: 2:30

Composer: Kevin Uppercue

These settings present disparate manners in which to utter these two terse, yet potent psalm texts: from the sorrowful to the exuberant, the primitive to the elegant. The music reflects these wide-ranging interpretations with interchanges of contrapuntal and homophonic textures, ostinato and scalar passages, a broad harmonic palette, and the utilization of the full tessitura of the chorus. Duration: 2:15

Composer: Kevin Uppercue

Set of String Parts includes 3-3-2-2-1

Composer: Harold Darke

This new setting nicely balances the familiar with the creative, all the while treating the beloved Holst tune (and the full five verses of the Rossetti text) in a fully idiomatic manner for unaccompanied SATB chorus (divisi). There are touches of humor in the arrangement (a baritone soloist appears right where you'd hope he'd be, and at one point the basses sing sotto voce "Go, angels go!") as well as a clear intention to paint the deeper meaning of the text. This is a great addition to your Christmas repertoire. Duration: 4:30

Arranger: James McCullough | Composer: Gustav Holst

Composer: Edward C. Bairstow

Composer: Gordon Young

Composer: Gordon Young