Christmas Prelude is an arrangement of the Christmas carol O Come, All Ye Faithful. The work can be performed with a choir and organ. Verse 1 is sung by a soloist, verse 2 by a four-part choir, and verse 3 by the congregation. Christmas Prelude was written for the brass band Euphonia from Wolvega, the Netherlands.
The quiet opening of the work symbolizes the gathering for the Christmas service. The somewhat march-like style illustrates the movement of people coming from various directions, encouraged by signals that in fact form the opening sentence of the carol O Come, All Ye Faithful. After this opening passage, three verses of the well-known Christmas song follow. Verse 1 is performed by a quartet and is occasionally embellished with motifs from the beginning of the work. Verse 2 is divided over the sections and leads to an interlude, which is also the prelude to the last verse. This passage indicates the beginning of the Christmas celebration. With festive embellishments, this verse is brought to a close, after which the piece results in an acceleration that finishes the composition in a spectacular way!
- ISMN: 9790035222577 (M035222577)