Search Music:

This short work was written at the request of Rachel Young, conductor of Auckland Youth Choir. The choir’s 2006 Christmas concert was to also involve the Auckland Girls Choir, Auckland Boys Choir, and Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra. A work which could open the concert, involve all performers, and make use of the performance space was needed. And it had to be easy to learn and quick to put together!

After considering various texts I approached noted New Zealand hymn writer Marnie Barrel to ask if she had anything suitable as a text. She very kindly wrote the text that I used for the work. Each choir has an energetic presentation of a verse which describes some of the features and feelings of Christmas. This is followed by an Alleluia. Towards the end of the work, the Alleluia becomes the basis of a canon for all the choirs along with the orchestra.

• Hamilton: A Christmas Fanfare; computer-set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  

In the deepness of the night before Christmas, children dream of exciting and wondrous things: so do adults, but they are also fraught with arrangements and planning for the big day. a call for simplicity and remembering the loving and gifting nature of Christmas. This piece is performed “in the round” i.e. the adult choir encircles the audience and the children stand up the central aisle. The adult choir gradually moves around the audience and sings at times in smaller groupings. The audience does not know where the sound will come from next. The children need to be able to hold 3 simple parts. Finger cymbals are used to indicate stars and nocturnal animals create an interesting opening. It is depicts a New Zealand Christmas experience.

• Russell: A Wellington Christmas or Christmas Eve Reflections; computer set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  
  $7.50
  • • Quantity:

• Russell: A Wellington Christmas or Christmas Eve Reflections; computer set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $10.00
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

The Carmina Gadelica, known in Gaelic as Ortha nan Gaidheal, is a six-volume collection of orally-transmitted prayers, poems, blessings and other material, collected by the folklorist Alexander Carmichael in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the second half of the nineteenth century. Carmichael subsequently translated this material, and edited the first two volumes. The death dirge An Tuiream Bais was published in the third volume, edited by Alexander’s grandson, James Carmichael Watson. I have set the first, fourth, fifth and sixth verses in the original Gaelic language.

• Shortis: An Tuiream Bais; computer-set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  
  $8.00
  • • Quantity:

• Shortis: An Tuiream Bais; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $10.50
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• Carol Shortis: An Tuiream Bais; audio 

  Media on Demand | Embedded
  

In 2006 I wrote A Christmas Fanfare for a concert involving both Auckland Boys’ Choir and Auckland Girls’ Choir. This work for multiple choirs and orchestra was used successfully several times in annual Christmas concerts. In 2010 these two choirs decided to present their own Christmas concert. Rejecting the initial idea of re-scoring A Christmas Fanfare, I offered to write a new piece tailored to the needs of the two choirs, with organ accompaniment. Faithful Choir, Rejoicing Sing is the result.

The text, here in a modern English translation, dates from the twelfth century and is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). I was drawn to the idea of an ancient text being delivered by fresh young voices. The text is a hymn of praise celebrating the birth of Christ.
Each of the voice parts first presents their own verse of the complete text. This is then followed by the four verses being sung simultaneously during a procession, in a kind of canonic texture. Following the procession the same music is heard once more with the parts coming in successively, and the whole piece ends with a final triumphant ‘Alleluia’.

David Hamilton

• Hamilton: Faithful Choir, Rejoicing Sing; computer-set  Year: 2010 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  • Borrow

Henna appears in two collections of carols. In a 2008 revision it is No. 5 from the Five Carol for 3 and 4 Parts. The original version of the carol appears in my earlier collection Sun Festival Carols.

• McLeod: Sun Festival Carols; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $30.00
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• McLeod: Five Carols for 3 and 4 Parts; computer-set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  
  $10.00
  • • Quantity:

• McLeod: Five Carols for 3 and 4 Parts; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $13.00
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• McLeod: Henna; computer-set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  
  $6.50
  • • Quantity:

• McLeod: Henna; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $8.50
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• Wanganui Schola Sacra Choir: Pohutukawa Carols  Year: 2002 

  CD
  
  • Borrow

A rhythmic, antiphonal and dramatic fanfare for 8-part mixed choir. Part of Five Christmas Fanfares each of which uses a Latin text from the Christmas services. Hodie Christus Natus Est is one of several choral pieces written especially for school choirs.

• Camm: Five Christmas Fanfares; computer set 

  Full score | Pdf - computer set
  
  $10.50
  • • Quantity:

• Camm: Five Christmas Fanfares; computer set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $13.00
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• Camm: Hodie Christus Natus Est; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $8.50
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow

• Buchanan: The Canticle of St Francis; computer-set 

  Full score | Hardcopy - computer set
  
  $11.50
  • • Quantity:
  • Borrow