Work
A Wellington Christmas or Christmas Eve Reflections
for three part treble choir with SATB choir and finger cymbals
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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.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Bel Canto with director Roy Tankersley in 2000
Contents note
11 sections alternately expressing 3 different points of view about Christmas: that of the child, the adult and perhaps a spiritual mentor or guide
Text note
Text by Rosemary Russell. The children's comments were gleaned from children at Tawa Primary School
Performance history
Performed by Bel Canto and children from St Mark's School with director Nicola Sutherland at the Catholic Cathedral in Wellington
Performed by Nota Bene Chamber Choir at The Jimmy Bar in Wellington