Watts' Cradle Song - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0193393107 ISBN 13: 9780193393103

Publisher: Oxford University Press Music, 2013

for SATB and organ This gentle carol sets the text of Isaac Watts' popular 'Cradle Song' to the music of Charles Villiers Stanford's lullaby, 'Golden slumbers, kiss your eyes', from his Six Songs (op. 19), written in 1882. Each of the four verses presents the melody in a different form: the arrangement opens with a section for solo or tutti tenors before the choral parts present delicate harmonies, and the final verse introduces an elegant descant. Also available for SS.

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About the Author:

Philip Moore has held posts at Eton, Canterbury, Guildford, and York. He began composing in early childhood and has continued unabated. Although much of his music is for choirs and organs, he has also written song cycles, chamber music, piano music, and music for orchestras. His music is sung in cathedrals and churches throughout the world, and he is frequently featured on BBC broadcasts of choral evensong. Moore's compositions include At the round earth's imagined corners and Ode to St Cecilia's Day, which use identical forces to Rutter's Gloria and Britten's St Nicolas Cantata respectively, and his anthem As the Father hath loved me was included in The Choirbook for The Queen.

Review:

It is hard to write both simply and effectively, yet all these composers have done so as they set traditional words to newly composed, gentle and appealing melodies, expressing wonder at the birth of the Christ Child . . .Watts' cradle song is the second of his carols, and is absolutely beautiful a with lovely, warm Warlock-style harmonies, most effectively written for a four-part unaccompanied choir. The same Isaac Watts text replaces the words of Golden slumbers in Stanford's song, masterfully arranged by Philip Moore. Previously available in a version for upper voices, this will now be welcomed by SATB choirs. Although dedicated to the choir of York Minster, other choirs that are able to feature a pure-toned descant line will enjoy this beautiful arrangement. * Gordon Appleton, www.rscm.co, December 2014 *

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