Wexford Carol SATB

Wexford Carol

for satb chorus

There Was a Time inside music_edited.jpg

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for SATB Chorus and Piano
optional String Quartet / Quintet, Oboe and Percussion

Available soon - TTBB

Traditional Irish, 12th Century
Beckenhorst Press - BP2191

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Description

A haunting arrangement of the familiar Wexford Carol for SATB choir and piano becomes increasingly rich and textured with the addition of oboe, percussion and string quartet/quintet. The Christmas story unfolds with the contrast of increasing intensity and quiet wonder.

00:00 / 04:31

the Inspiration

Text

Good people all, this Christmas time Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done In sending His beloved Son With Mary holy we should pray To God with love this Christmas day In Bethlehem upon that morn' There was a blessed Messiah born Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep To whom God's angels did appear Which put the shepherds in great fear "Prepare and go", the angels said "To Bethlehem, be not afraid For there you'll find this happy morn' A princely Babe, sweet Jesus born" With thankful heart and joyful mind The shepherds went that Babe to find And as God's angel had foretold They did our Savior Christ behold Within a manger He was laid And by his side the Virgin maid As long foretold upon that morn' There was a blessed Messiah born - Traditional Irish, 12th Century

Composer Notes

In my arrangement of "Wexford Carol," I aimed to preserve the haunting beauty of its original melody while enhancing it with rich harmonies and cinematic accompaniment. With new musical material in the introduction and interludes, I incorporated the textures of Irish fiddle slides, oboe, and a traditional Irish drum (bodhrán) to evoke the rugged landscape and folklore of Ireland and it’s ancient terrain. Powerful unison voices on “With thankful heart and joyful mind” add depth, while the new material creates a vivid image of mist-laden hillsides, and a seaside village shrouded in fog and the wonder of the Christmas mystery.