HISTORIC CHRISTMAS CAROLS - NEW SETTINGS FOR FLUTE AND PIANO
Composed by Helen-Jean Talbott
Date Published: 2009
Instrumentation: flute and piano
I combined original material with historic tunes to create this set of three beautiful new arrangements for church and performance settings. Flute and piano players are equal partners in presenting the melodic material.
Published by: Falls House Press, now part of Theodore Presser Co.
id code: FH0465
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Duration : 4:00
The name of the melody, or hymn tune, used for the advent carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel found today in many church hymnals is Veni Emmanuel. Each of my three presentations of Veni Emmanuel explores a different mood— longing, despair, and darkness resolving into hope and light.
Wexford Carol
Duration: 4:20
Wexford Carol is a traditional Irish Christmas carol, with English lyrics dating back to the 12th century. You might recognize the opening line of text, “Good people all this Christmas time.” I varied the texture in each presentation of the tune in my composition – solo flute, solo piano, flute and piano together. The piece begins with solo flute and includes grace-note ornaments inspired by traditional Irish flute music.
On This Day Earth Shall RIng & 'Twas in the moon of Wintertime
Duration: 3:11
On This Day Earth Shall Ring is based on the hymn tune Personent Hodie, a well-known processional for men and boys. ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is based on the hymn tune Huron Carol, which was composed around 1642 by St. Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary to the Huron Indians. For my arrangement the two tunes represent two distinct sets of families, and I image a storyteller recounting when these people gathered for a joyful traditional winter celebration.