Christmas Oratorio

for SATB and soloists (M-S, T, & B), with organ and flute or small ensemble With this majestic work Chilcott takes on a landmark of the choral repertory, the Christmas Oratorio. Words from St Luke and St Matthew are intertwined with 16th-19th-century poetry to create a compelling retelling of the Christmas story. Five hymn texts are set to new, original melodies that take their place among the season's tradition of great hymnody and enable the audience or congregation to join in with the choir. As in the St John Passion, much of the narrative is presented by a tenor soloist in the role of Evangelist, with focal points such as the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis and Rossetti's 'Love came down at Christmas' taken by mezzo-soprano and bass soloists. The chorus is integral to the storytelling, assuming small character roles and taking centre stage in two unaccompanied movements. A solo flute characterizes the angels, and the mellow tones of the brass ensemble evoke a sense of festive tradition.

About the Author :
Bob Chilcott has become one of the world's most widely performed composers and arrangers of choral music. His compositional output reflects his wide taste in music styles and his commitment to writing music that is both singable and communicative. He has been involved in choral music most of his life he was a chorister and then a choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, and was a member of the British vocal group The King's Singers for whom he made a number of popular arrangements of well-known songs from all genres. As well as being a full-time composer he is also a highly acclaimed choral conductor. He has been privileged to conduct many choirs all over the world. He is Principal Guest Conductor of The BBC Singers and in 2019 he was appointed Principal Conductor of Birmingham University Singers. His music has been widely recorded by many choirs and groups including The King's Singers, Tenebrae, and The BBC Singers.

Review :
Chilcott's most extensive foray into Christmas repertoire so far came as a commission for the Three Choirs Festival . . . As with the earlier Passion, the congregational hymns are a particular highlight. Chilcott's recitative is not Bachian, and yet is both fluent and varied â and utterly new . . . Four congregational hymns are fitted in to his own fresh descanted tunes; the use particularly of harp (and flute) is quite magical, lending warm colour to the mezzo soloist, while the bass intones Chilcott's marvellously expressive treatment of the Nunc Dimittis. "Where is the babe but lately sprung? Lies he the lily-banks among" (Herrick) gives some idea of the enchanting text . . . The work, cheerfully volatile, should serve enthusiastic choirs well in the future. I LOVED THIS MUSIC! It is already published by Oxford University Press and I predict it is going to be a classic. Choral directors, take note! An important element in Bob Chilcott's new work, acting as structural pillars, as it were, is the inclusion of number of hymns in which the audience/congregation is encouraged to join. Participation in these hymns draws the listener in, just as the chorales do in Bach's Passions . . . These hymn tunes are newly minted by Chilcott and all of them are eminently singable . . . As you might expect from this composer, the music is highly attractive. The choral writing is effective and good, as is the instrumental accompaniment . . . The tenor soloist, as the Evangelist, is at the centre of the work . . . Bob Chilcott has done it again, composing an attractive and sincere piece which will surely appeal to audiences and choirs alike. I am sure it won't be long before other choirs are pressing their conductors to take it up.