Christmas Here and There

About

This short cycle examines the differences between northern and southern hemisphere experiences of Christmas. These differences are encapsulated in Margaret Mahy’s early poem Christmas in New Zealand which contrasts the colours of a summertime Christmas with the images of snow and robins on Christmas cards. The second piece sets a Christina Rossetti poem which suggests that Christ’s birth was early in the day watched only by the angels and the animals. The third piece sets a traditional text which describes the typical landscapes of a northern hemisphere Christmas - the bare tress and the animals foraging for food. The fourth movement is a piece for band alone, which picks up on elements of the opening movement as well as varied treatment of fragments from the well-known carol Good King Wenceslas. The final piece sets a widely anthologized poem of unknown authorship. It humorously returns us to a summertime Christmas where there‘s no snow, and where Santa might end up with a suntan in the 'Pacific summertime' Christmas.

Christmas Here and There was commissioned by South Auckland Choral Society for the choir’s end of year concert 2011.