Christmas Eve

ISBN 10: 0193514389 ISBN 13: 9780193514386

Publisher: Oxford University Press Music, 2017

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied In this atmospheric piece Gabriel Jackson sets a text by the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti. The first stanza is sung by sopranos only, with expressive chromatic lines evoking the 'darkness' and 'chillness' referred to in the text. The music flowers into four parts for the contrasting second stanza, with rich harmonies and flowing melismas creating a sumptuous texture.

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About the Author:

Gabriel Jackson was born in Bermuda. After three years as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral he studied composition at the Royal College of Music. Jackson's music has been commissioned, performed and broadcast worldwide, and his works have been presented at many festivals including Aldeburgh, Cheltenham, Spitalfields, and the BBC Proms. His liturgical pieces are in the repertoires of many of Britain's cathedral and collegiate choirs, and his choral works in general have been recorded by some of the world's leading choirs including Polyphony, The Vasari Singers, The State Choir of Latvia, and Merton College Choir, Oxford. He is currently the Associate Composer to the BBC Singers, who have premiered and broadcast a number of recent commissions. Over recent years Jackson's music has been equally focussed on instrumental works. Commissions include works for organist Michael Bonaventure, Red Note Ensemble, and the Lunar Sax Quartet.

Review:

Christmas Eve is a setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti. Though it is only three minutes long, the composer manages to incorporate many of his trademark rhythms and textures, here suitably manipulated to reflect the contrasts and images present in the text. * Geoffrey Webber, Choir & Organ, September 2017 *

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