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Piano Vocal
Gwyneth Walker
On Christmas EvE
for Soprano, Brass Quintet, Percussion and Organ
1. Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella 2. In the Bleak Midwinter 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
On Christmas EvE duration 9 minutes 30 seconds
Premiered at Emmanuel Episcopal Church
of Petoskey, Michigan on December 24, 2020
André Strydom, organist, Judith Zorn, soprano with musicians from the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra
Table of Contents
1. Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella 1
2. In the Bleak Midwinter 7
3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow 14
Notes
Christmas Eve 2020 will be a special time. Although choirs cannot gather for group singing during this pandemic, soloists are ready. And therefore, new music for solo voice with instruments (brass, percussion and organ) has been created for this year. The title is On Christmas Eve. These are three songs (revisiting traditional carols) which combine the intimacy of a solo voice with the varied instrumental timbres. A central message is the tenderness of the Mother’s love for Child. The gift is of the heart. The first song in the set is a traditional french carol, “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella.” There is joy for those coming to the manger. And Mary, guarding her sleeping son, must quiet the noisy shepherds! Hush! Hush! Ah! que l’enfant est beau! [Ah! the beautiful son!] “In the Bleak Midwinter” (text by Christina Rossetti) follows next. In order to suggest bleakness of landscape, the music opens with a low, sustained chord in the organ. Above this barren land floats the melody played by the french horn. Maracas add a touch of quiet, peaceful slumber. The voice enters to present the four verses, each with an increasingly active accompaniment. Finally comes the plaintive question of What can I give him, poor as I am? This is repeated with urgency until the answer brings resolution: I would give my heart. “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” presents a new dimension to the Nativity story. For it is shepherds (i.e., working-class folk) who follow the star to Bethlehem, in contrast with the Magi (kings). The shepherds travel by foot, perhaps at a jaunty, swing – rhythm pace. They heed the angel’s word: You’ll forget your flock, you’ll forget your herd. And thus, they leave behind all that they own to witness the Savior’s birth.
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella (Traditional French carol, G. Walker, alt) Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella Bring a torch, to the cradle run! It is Jesus, good folk of the village; Christ is born and Mary's calling; Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son! Ah! Que la mere est belle! Quiet, all, don’t waken the baby; Quiet, all, and whisper low. Silence as you gather around him, Lest your noise awaken Jesus. Hush! hush! Quietly now he slumbers; Hush! hush! Quietly now he sleeps! Voyez comme il dort! Softly to the little stable, Softly for a moment come; Look and see how sweet is Jesus. See how he smiles! With cheeks so rosy! Hush! hush! Quietly now he slumbers; Hush! hush! Quietly now he sleeps! Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son! Que l’enfant est beau!
In the Bleak Midwinter (Christina Rossetti, G. Walker, alt.) In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Heaven cannot hold Him Nor can earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign. In the bleak mid-winter A stable warm sufficed Our Lord God Almighty, Our Savior Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels May have gathered there. Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the evening air, But his mother only, In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the Beloved With a tender kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb, If I were a wise one, I would do my part, But what can I give Him, I would give my heart.
Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow (Traditional African –American carol) There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn, Rise up, shepherd, and follow. It will lead to the place where Jesus is born, Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Follow, follow, Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Follow the star of Bethlehem. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Leave your sheep and leave your lambs. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Leave your ewes and leave your rams. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. REFRAIN If you take good heed to the angel’s word. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. You’ll forget your flock; you’ll forget your herd. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. REFRAIN
Widely performed throughout the country, the music of American composer Gwyneth Walker is beloved by performers and audiences alike for its energy, beauty, reverence, drama, and humor. Dr. Gwyneth Walker (b.1947) is a graduate of Brown University and the Hartt School of Music. She holds B.A., M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in Music Composition. A former faculty member of the Oberlin College Conservatory, she
resigned from academic employment in 1982, in order to pursue a career as a full‐time composer. For nearly 30 years, she lived on a dairy farm in Braintree, Vermont. She now divides her time between her childhood hometown of New Canaan, Connecticut and the musical community of Randolph, Vermont.
Further information concerning Gwyneth Walker and her works is available at: www.gwynethwalker.com
Piano
(reduction)
With joyful energy = 66
with pedal
9
Bring a
A lightly
A
torch Jean
nette, Is a
bel la!
Bring a
torch to the
cra dle
run!
- - - - -
17
(“running” motive)
It is
B
B
Je sus, good
folk of the
vil lage;
Christ is
born and
- -
Gwyneth Walker
© Copyright 2020 by Gwyneth Walker252 Park Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
www.gwynethwalker.com All rights reserved
Traditional French Carol
1. Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
On Christmas Evefor Soprano, Brass Quintet, Percussion and Organ
Piano Reduction
25
Mar y’s
call ing.
(as a call in the distance)
Ah!
Cdelicately
C
Ah!
beau ti ful
is the
- - - -
33
moth er!
Ah!
Ah!
beau ti ful
is her
son.
D
D
- - -
41
Ah!
(Ah!
(as a quiet commentary, an “aside”)
que la
beau ti ful
mere est
moth
bel le!
er!)
Qui et,
()E
a quiet sparkling accompanimentE
()
with pedal
all, don’t
- -- - -
48
wa ken the
ba by;
[Mary quiets the shepherds]
[The noisy shepherds need quieting!]
Qui et,
all, and
- --
2
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 1. Bring a Torch. Jeannette, Isabella
54
whis per
low.
[The shepherds keep quiet]
()
Si lence
F
F
as you
- -
60
gath er
round him,
lest your
noise a
wa ken
Je sus.
- - - -
67
Hush!
G
G
Hush!
qui et ly
now he
slum bers;
Hush!
- - -
74
Hush!
qui et ly
now he
sleeps.
H
H
()
- -
3
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 1. Bring a Torch. Jeannette, Isabella
81
Vo(See
yez
(as a quiet commentary, an “aside”)
howcomme
heil
dort!sleeps!)
I
I
especially joyous
-
88
J
J
95
Ah
102
Soft ly
lightly, delicately (almost whispered)K
K
to the
lit tle
sta ble,
- - -
4
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 1. Bring a Torch. Jeannette, Isabella
109
soft ly
for a
mo ment,
come.
Look and
L
L
cresc.
see how
sweet is
- -
116
Je sus.
See how he
( )
(Ossia for lower voices)
smiles!
with
cheeks
so
-
123
ro
( )
sy!
Hush!
M
M
Hush!
-
131
qui et ly
now he
slum
bers;
Hush!
Hush!
qui et ly
- - - - -
5
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 1. Bring a Torch. Jeannette, Isabella
138
now he
sleeps.
Ah!
N
N
Ah!
beau ti ful
is the
- -
145
moth
er.
Ah!
Ah!
beau ti ful
is her
son!
- - -
153
rit.
rit.
Que
(Beau ti
l’en
ful
Slower
Slower
fant
is
est
her
beau!
son!)
2:30
-
- -
6
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 1. Bring a Torch. Jeannette, Isabella
(to suggest the bleakness of midwinter)
Free tempo, introduction
(pedal stays throughout, for blurred harmony effect)
cantabile
A Slowly, reverently = 92
()
6
()
12
B
()
with pedal
18
poco accel.
7
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
2. In the Bleak Midwinter
Christina Rossetti (1830 –1894)G. Walker, alt.
adapted from the hymn tuneby Gustav Holst (1874 –1934)
23
In the bleak mid
cantabile
a quiet background
C
C
Slightly faster = 100
Slightly faster = 100
win ter,
frost y wind made
moan.
- - -
27
Earth stood hard as
i ron,
wa ter like a
stone.
- -
31
Snow had fal len,
D
D
snow on snow,
snow on
snow.
-
35
In the bleak mid
win ter,
long a
go.
- - -
8
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
40
Hea ven can not
()E
E
[Same tempo = 100]
[Same tempo = 100]
hold him,
simile
- -
44
nor can earth sus
tain.
Heaven and earth shall
flee a way
- -
48
when he comes to
reign.
In the bleak mid
F
F
win ter, a
- -
52
sta ble warm suf
ficed. Our
Lord God al
might y, our
- - - -
9
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
56
Sa vior Je sus
Christ.
()
- -
60
An gels and arch
3 3 3
3
()G
G
[Same tempo = 100]
[Same tempo = 100]
delicately, shimmering
with pedal
an gels
3 3 3
3
- - -
63
may have gath ered
3 3 3
3
there.
3 3 3
3
Cher u bim and
3 3 3
3
- - -
10
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
66
ser a phim
3 3 3
3
thronged the eve ning
3 3
3 3
air.
3 3 3
3
- - -
69
But his moth er
33
3
3
H
H
on ly,
3 33
3
in her maid en
3 33
3
- - -
72
bliss,
33
3
3
wor shipped the be
3 3 3
3
lov ed child
3 3 3
3
- - -
75
with a ten der
3 3
3 3
kiss.
-
11
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
78
poco accel.
poco accel.
What can I
I
I
Faster = 112, more animated and rhythmic
Faster = 112, more animated and rhythmic
give him,
82
poor as I
am?
If I were a
shep herd,
-
86
I would give a
lamb.
If I were a
wise one,
90
I would do my
part. But
what can I
J
J
give him?
12
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
94
What can I
give him?
What can I
with more urgency
rit.
rit.
give him?
Slower
Slower
98
I would give
loco
my
heart,
a tempo (= 100)
a tempo (= 100)
102
rit. to end
rit. to end
my
heart.
4:15
13
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 2. In the Bleak Midwinter
(with the joy of seeing the “star of the East”)
Relaxed tempo = 100, swing rhythm ( = lj)
4
8
Lively tempo = 112A
12
There’s a
in celebration
star in the East on
(with the energy of rising up and following the star)
B
B
Christ mas morn.
-
14
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
Traditional African-American spiritual
15
Rise up, shep herd, and
fol low. It will
lead to the place where
- -
18
Je sus is born.
Rise up, shep herd, and
(Ossia for higher voices)*
fol low.
- - -
21
Leave your ewes and
C
C
leave your lambs.
Rise up, shep herd, and
-
24
fol low.
Leave your sheep and
leave your rams.
Rise up, shep herd, and
- -
15
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
28
fol low.
fol low,
D
D
fol low,
rise up, shep herd, and
- - - -
32
fol low.
Fol low the star of
Beth le hem.
- - - -
35
Rise up, shep herd, and
fol low.
E
E- -
38
If you
16
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
41
take good heed to the
F
F
an gel’s word.
Rise up, shep herd, and
- -
44
fol low. You’ll for
get your flock, you’ll for
get your herd.
- - -
47
Rise up, shep herd, and
fol low.
Leave those ewes and
emphaticallyG
G
leave those lambs.
- -
51
Rise up, shep herd, and
fol low.
Leave those sheep and
leave those rams.
- -
17
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
55
Rise up, shep herd, and
fol low.
Fol low,
H
H
- - -
58
fol low,
rise up. shep herd, and
fol low.
- - -
61
Fol low the star of
Beth le hem.
Rise up, shep herd,
I
I
- - - -
64
rise up, shep herd,
-
18
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
67
rise up, shep herd,
and fol
*
- - - - - - -
70
low,
fol
low,
- - - -- -
74
rit.
rit.
fol low!
-
19
Walker | On Christmas Eve | 3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
2:45 | Total 9:30December 12, 2020
New Canaan, Connecticut
*The singer may “sneak a breath” in this passage if necessary.
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