Choral ~ Holiday ~ with Keyboard
“Sing We All! 'Tis Christmas Morning”
(An original setting of a traditional Appalachian text)
SOUND CLIP / WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO / SCORE SAMPLE
SCORING: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by organ (a fairly challenging part)
DURATION: ca. 2:30 — DIFFICULTY: 3/5 — PAGES IN PDF SCORE: 8
DEDICATION: Written for my mother, Ethel Bloesch — a wonderful organist
HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER — PDF: $45 (for all the copies you need)
DESCRIPTION
This is an original setting of a quaint and charming Appalachian text from the state of Kentucky. I created a simple but jovial melody that captures the uncomplicated joy of the poem. The organ provides an exuberant accompaniment.
TEXT INFO
Sing We All! 'Tis Christmas Morning
Traditional Appalachian text, from the state of Kentucky
Complete text:
Sing we all! 'Tis Christmas morning!
Jesus Christ the Son's a-borning.
Heigh, the holly! Ho, the heather!
Carol voices all together!
Come ye brave, and come ye strong,
Repent your sins, give up the wrong.
Heigh, the holly! Ho, the heather!
Carol voices all together!
In the manger all alone,
The Virgin Mother did atone.
Seek not earthly power and pelf, ["pelf" = riches]
But through your Jesus save yourself.
Heigh, the holly! Ho, the heather!
Carol voices all together!
See the ox and see the kine, ["kine" = cows]
And see afar the heavenly sign.
He who came to earth so low,
Soon to our estate will grow.
Heigh, the holly! Ho, the heather!
Carol voices all together!
And upon the cruel tree,
Will die in place of you and me.
Sing we all! 'Tis Christmas morning!
Jesus Christ the Son's a-borning.
Heigh, the holly! Ho, the heather!
Carol voices all together!
