Arr by Cathy Moklebust . . . Christmas Folk Tune . . . 

This is a winner of an arrangement of the haunting Christmas hymn (Picardy) that uses quiet tinging percussion (triangle, finger cymbal, chime tree/wind chime) throughout, making the music ethereal and light.  The dynamics never arise above mezzo but once, and the feel of the music is hushed and dark and anticipatory, with lots of held chords and lots of moving 8th notes to make the music flow.  The tune is played through three full times -- slightly varied in rhythm and accompaniment each time -- and the music ends carefully, quietly and in almost free rhythm with chords and subdued percussion.

 There is a small handchime section in the middle for 2 octaves (G4 up to G5) that is necessary, and the percussion parts are very simple and basic (there is a percussion part written on the last two pages of every handbell part).  

This is music that begs to be used at Christmas Eve, but could also be used at other times of the calendar and for communions and even Maundy Thursday.

• Key of G Minor, 4/4 time signature, marked "freely" 60 speed

• 8th and quarter notes, with some easy syncopations in the mid-bells; there are a few accidentals, mostly (but not all) related to the minor key

• There are no special techniques

• Dynamics are mostly mezzo, with a rise to a forte in the middle - then a drop back to mezzo

© 2012  Concordia Publishing