This setting of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is an attempt to musically portray a great victory parade to see the Christ Child (see the post Thoughts on “O Come, All Ye Faithful”). The choral arrangement begins with a soloist inviting the faithful to join in a great, joyful, and triumphal procession to Bethlehem. The full choir joins by repeating the last part of the stanza, a lost tradition that is evident in early hymnals and choral arrangements of this carol. In successive stanzas, each voice part takes a turn leading the joyous procession by singing the melody. Pivot modulations, interesting harmonies, and unique vocal textures occur as each voice shares the melody in their range and then passes it along to the next voice. In my vision of this setting of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” the soloist who invites us to join this “joyful and triumphant” procession is Avonlea Warner who joined the heavenly choir just this past month after an all too short earthly life (see the post New Singers in the Church Triumphant). This setting is dedicated to the Warner family in her memory.
This arrangement can be performed by strings alone or with a choir. Repeats are optional.
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Christmas Music by Jubal’s Lyre Music Publishers on www.sheetmusicplus.com.
