Programme Note
Inspired by Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, Arakelyan’s nine-movement A Christmas Offering is a Christmas celebration of contrasting works – ranging from energetic movements, such as Alleluia!, to contemplative moments, such as Out of the East, and heartfelt settings such as There is No Rose. Based on Medieval English poetry, the musical language includes allusions to this sound world.
Performance Notes
Intended as a companion piece to A Ceremony of Carols, this composition is flexible to accommodate the performance contexts:
- the harp part may be played by the piano,
- a sung procession of the Gregorian chant Gaudete (page 1a) may be included at the beginning or the end, if desired. (This can be sung either tutti or by a section of the choir). If preferred, the composition may also begin with the composed version of Gaudete!, (page 1b) if a procession is omitted.
- the compositions can be sung from beginning to end, as standalone pieces, or in smaller groups. Though any groupings are left to the discretion of the conductor, the following may be a useful starting point:
o Movements 1-9: approx. 30 minutes
o Movements 1-2, 6-9: approx.. 20 minutes
o Movements 1-2: approx. 5 minutes
