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Christmas

Christmas Eve

24 recommended works by women composers for Christmas Eve.

Year A

Ring Out!

Jennaya Robison

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SSAA

Accompaniment: handbells or piano

Language: English / Latin

ModerateScore MorningStar

Year B

Balulalow

Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)

Words by James Wedderburn, John Wedderburn, Robert Wedderburn

Reflects on Luke 2

Anthem · Young Trebles

Voicing: SS

Accompaniment: piano

Duration: 1:52

Language: English

EasyScore RecordingBoosey and Hawkes

Gebet in der Christnacht

Fanny Hensel (1805–1847)

Words by Wilhelm Müller

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB or TBTB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 2:00

Language: German or English

EasyScore: Multitude of VoycesMultitude of Voyces C.I.C.

Gloria (Mass in A)

Amy Beach (1867–1944)

Text source: Gloria in excelsis

Reflects on Gloria

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: organ

Duration: 3:25

Language: English

DifficultScore: Contact St. Bart's, NYC RecordingManuscript, St. Bart's NYC

Huron Carol

Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)

Words by Jean de Brébeuf

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 2:57

Language: English

ModerateScore RecordingOxford

The manger throne

Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)

Words by William Chatterton Dix

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: organ

Duration: 4:00

Language: English

EasySelah

This endris nyght

Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)

Text source: Traditional

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SSAA

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 5:00

Language: English

Moderate RecordingOUP

Un enfant nouveau

Elizabeth Coxhead (b. 1987)

Text source: Gelineau

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 3:00

Language: French and English

ModerateSelah

Verbum caro factum est

Tamsin Jones

Text source: Ancient English Christmas Carols 1400-1700

Reflects on John 1:14

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB or TBTB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 2:30

Language: Latin/English

DifficultScore: Multitude of Voyces RecordingMultitude of Voyces C.I.C.

can be sung with two soloists SA or TB, and as SATB or TBTB

Year C

A Little Childe There is Ibore

Jane M. Joseph (1894–1929)

Text source: 1535 English translation of the hymn Vom Himmel hoch by Martin Luther

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SSA

Accompaniment: organ

Duration: 4:00

Language: Old English

Moderate RecordingBardic Edition Music Publishers

Jane Joseph was student of Gustav Holst and assisted him in work. She also taugh music to Imogen Holst.

All My Heart This Night Rejoices

Brenda Portman (b. 1980)

Words by Paul Gerhardt, Catherine Winkworth

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: piano

Language: English

EasyScore Lorenz, The Sacred Music Press

German Chorale Warum Sollt' Ich Mich Denn Gramen

Lullaby

Kim Porter

Text source: Anonymous

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Duration: 2:54

Language: English

ModerateScore RecordingChoral Music Publishing Ltd

Mary had a baby

Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)

Text source: St. Helena Island Spiritual; collected by N.G.J. Ballanta-Taylor, arr. E. Poston

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: U with descant

Accompaniment: guitar

Language: English

EasyScore Penguin Books

Poston arranged nearly 100 carols to be sung in their native, original style. She collected field recordings from England and the US. This carol is from South Carolina.

Stella Maris

Stef Conner

Reflects on the day’s overall theme.

Anthem · Choir

Voicing: SATB

Accompaniment: a cappella

Language: Latin

ModerateScore composer