CHRISTMAS / FESTIVE
COMPOSITIONS & ARRANGEMENTS

Below is a comprehensive list of Christmas & Festive titles, together with a little background.
For a concise summary with timings and orchestrations, please click here.
Most of the music on this page is published by Camden Music, London.
Many online performances are available and these can be heard by pressing the play button

Click for a printable PDF version of the Christmas catalogue

CHORAL MUSIC

AWAY IN A MANGER
Carol for SATB, solo tenor and piano (or chamber orchestra)

Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire. (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/1P.hp.cel/strings)
Away in a Manger is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

CHERRY TREE CAROL (The)
Carol for SATB (also SSA) and organ (with optional solo flute) or chamber orchestra

Demo of SSA version

Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/1P.hp.cel/strings)
This is a popular new setting of this charming carol.
The Cherry Tree Carol has been recorded in both its SATB and High Voice versions with
orchestral and instrumental accompaniments.
See the recordings page for full details.
The Cherry Tree Carol is recorded on Naxos 8.570793, Herald HAVPCD299 & Cantoris CRCD6075 (high voice)

FESTIVE FROLIC
Celebratory piece for SAB and optional junior chorus with symphony orchestra & organ

Written in something of a minimalist style, Festive Frolic was written in 2006 to celebrate thirty years since the first biennial choral festival
given by the London Borough of Redbridge at London's Royal Albert Hall. It was first performed in the hall under the title Festival Frolic and
was conducted by the composer.
Parts for orchestra and chorus are available on hire. (2.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/T.3P.2Kbd.org/strings)
Festive Frolic is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

IN EXCELSIS GLORIA
Song for solo soprano and piano (or chamber orchestra)

A setting of Christmas words written for my friend, the soprano Julia Wilson-James.
Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire for both sets.
(1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/T.2-3P.hp.pfd.cel/strings)

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
Advent hymn arranged for solo baritone, SATB chorus and chamber orchestra

An atmospheric start by a solo voice leads to a dramatic last verse with just a hint of Hollywood!
Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire. (1.1.1.1/2.0.0.0/.T1P.hp.(opt org)/strings)
O come, O come Emmanuel is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Arrangement for orchestra with optional SATB chorus and soloist and/or audience participation

A new arrangement commissioned by Raymond Gubbay Ltd. for its annual nationwide Christmas festival.
It is performable by orchestra alone or with choir and/or audience and/or solo voice for the optional opening verse (which is
cued into the first horn part in the orchestral version).
Parts for orchestra and SATB chorus are available on hire (2.2.2.2/4.3.2.1/.T.3P.(hp).strings)
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

SLEEP SWEET BABE! (Dormi Jesu)
Song for solo voice and piano (or chamber orchestra) with optional SATB chorus

Based on the slow movement of the Concertino for Celeste, this carol is also available with orchestral accompaniment. (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/hp.cel/strings)
Sleep Sweet Babe! is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

THREE CAROLS
for SATB (also SS), solo flute and keyboard accompaniment (or chamber orchestra)

1. Gabriel's Message

2. Rocking

3. Angels from the realms of glory

SS (high voice) versions

1. Gabriel's Message

2. Rocking

3. Angels from the realms of glory

Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire for both sets (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/T.2-3P.hp.pfd.cel/strings)

Three Carols have been recorded using both the orchestral and instrumental accompanimental versions.
See the recordings page for further details.
Three Carols are recorded on Naxos 8.570793, Cantoris CRCD6075 (high voice) & Redbridge RRCD1067
Rocking has also been recorded on Herald HAVPCD299

THREE MORE CAROLS
for SATB (also SS), solo flute and keyboard accompaniment (or chamber orchestra)

1. The Coventry Carol

2. Silent Night

3. In Dulci Jubilo

SS (high voice) versions

1. The Coventry Carol

2. Silent Night

3. In Dulci Jubilo

Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire for both sets (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/T.2-3P.hp.pfd.cel/strings)
Three More Carols have been recorded with both the orchestral and instrumental accompaniments versions.
See the recordings page for full details.
Three More Carols are recorded on Naxos 8.570793, Cantoris CRCD6075 (high voice) & Redbridge RRCD1067

High voice/SS arrangements (two equal parts) are also available for both sets.
The flute part, whilst desirable for performance, could be played by another, suitable instrument.

TWO MICHAELMAS CAROL ANTHEMS
for high voices (SS), oboe and keyboard

1. Crowns of Gold

2. It Came upon a Midnight Clear

These two short pieces are written for two, equal high voice parts. They have an oboe obbligato part which could be played by another instrument, if preferred. They are ideally suited to piano accompaniment. Crowns of Gold is in a catchy 7/8 time and It Came upon a Midnight Clear is in a Calypso style.

Two Michaelmas Carol Anthems have been recorded on Cantoris CRCD6075 & Redbridge RRCD1067.
See the recordings page for full details.

WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE
Carol for SATB, three (optional) solo kings and piano (or chamber orchestra)

This arrangement was made for a performance in 2004 at London's Barbican Hall given by the choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and the English Chamber Orchestra. Parts for chamber orchestra are available on hire.
(1.1.1.1/1.0.0.0/2P.hp(or pno)/strings)
It can also be performed with a more classical orchestra (0.2.1.1/2.0.0.0/1P.hp(or pno).org/strings)
We Three Kings of Orient Are is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

Click to return to the top of the page

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

CHRISTMAS MUDLEY
for two pianos | piano duet | piano & brass | piano & orchestra

This piece was originally written for a Christmas edition of Radio 2's long-lamented programme "At the Piano". The first performance was given by Roderick Elms
and John Alley from the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.
The 'Mudley' is also available arranged for piano duet, solo piano & brass and solo piano & orchestra.
The featured tunes are: The Sussex Carol, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, The Twelve Days of Christmas & Here We Come A-wassailing.

FANFARE DA FESTA
Short seasonal fanfare for brass, organ, celeste & percussion

This piece is scored for brass (4,3,2,1) with percussion, celeste and organ.

This short Christmas piece contains references to a number of carols. It has a slightly Latin American flavour to the middle section and ends in a 'grand manner'. It last about 1' 10" and received its first performance in The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in December 2001 by the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell.
The Fanfare ends in D major making it a suitable Prelude to a great many Christmas pieces starting in G!
Fanfare da Festa is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

PAEAN
for organ & orchestra

The Paean for organ and strings (with optional percussion) was commissioned by the Elgar Chamber Orchestra which gave its first performance on 9 May 2004 in St John’s Church, High Wycombe conducted by Stephen Bell with the composer as soloist.

SHEEP MAY SAFELY GRAZE
Arrangement for organ with strings and two horns

Parts for organ and chamber orchestra are available on hire (0.0.0.0/2.0.0.0/org.strings)
Sheep May Safely Graze is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

SLEEPER'S WAKE! (Wauchet auf)
Arrangement for organ with strings and two horns

Parts for organ and chamber orchestra are available on hire (0.0.0.0/2.0.0.0/org.strings)
Sleepeer's Wake! is recorded on Naxos 8.570793

TWO FESTIVE CARILLONS
for organ solo

1. Carillon Festivo
Written for the wedding of my publisher, this lively postlude has more than a few semiquavers (16ths!).

Carillon Festivo has been recorded by Stuart Nicholson on Redbridge RRCD1067. See the recordings page for full details.

2. Carillon da Festa
written for the 40th Birthday of a friend and lasting about 2' 30". Based upon the tune "Happy Birthday", there is an alternate ending depending upon how obvious you want the underlying theme to be!

WASSAIL DOWN THE WIND
Suite of "Three Drinking songs for organist & Orchestra"

This suite of seasonally influenced pieces was written to allow the organist an opportunity to shine in his/her own right and show off some of the features of this wonderful instrument.
The piece is scored for symphony orchestra (pic.1.2.1.B.cl.1.C.Fg/4.2.3.1/T.3P/Hp.strings) and solo organ.
Orchestral material is available on hire.

1. The Boar's Head, Coventry
A lively and dramatic dance movement based on the Coventry Carol which reaches a climax with references by way of the Boar's Head Carol. It affords many opportunities for the organist to display the power of the instrument,

2. Merry Gents
A rather satirically slow and lugubrious re-working of the melody for "God rest you merry, gentlemen". The organist is able to show off some of the more characterful sounds of the organ.

3. Wassailing in the Dark
The third movement was written for the BBC Concert Orchestra in its 50th anniversary year. It is based on the carol "Here we come a Wassailing".

Wassail Down the Wind is recorded by Stuart Nicholson on Naxos 8.570793

Click to return to the top of the page