Christmas Music

Australian Christmas Music

 

Dear colleagues,

 

Should you still be looking for interesting Christmas music for your church, college, or community choir may I suggest the following pieces by Australian composers as an opportunity to include some fresh and engaging music in your Christmas repertoire.

 

Ave Maria – Robert Boughen. Published by Morton Music (Musical Resources, distributor). For two-part Treble choir and organ. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes.

 

Bright Stars – Stephen Leek. Published by Stephen Leek (www.stephenleek.com). A fresh and buoyant piece for church or concert using melodic ideas from How Brightly Shines the Morning Star. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

Bululalow – Colin Brumby. Published by Wirrapang. This gentle unaccompanied Christmas lullaby is a lovely miniature from one of Australia’s most prolific choral composers. For unaccompanied mixed voices. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes.

 

Good Christian Folk, Rejoice – Ralph Morton. Published by Morton Music (Musical Resources, distributor). For mixed voices with keyboard (or brass). Recording available by St Peters Chorale on iTunes.

 

If Christ had been born – Matthew Orlovich. Published by Matthew Orlovich. (www.mattheworlovich.com). This work for unaccompanied choir is a buoyant and lively piece that expresses the universality of the birth of Jesus by posing the question “what if Christ had been born under southern skies”?  When you think about it, there are not many crisp, direct Christmas pieces. Slow sentiment and serious pomp seem to be the prevailing musical emotions. If Christ had been born and The Birthday of our King (see below) both avoid sentiment and pomp and therefore may be a refreshing change for your singers and their audience. For unaccompanied mixed voices. Recording available on Matthew’s website.

 

In the Splendour of the Dawn – Graeme Morton. Published by Augsburg Fortress. Written for the St Olaf Christmas Festival for unaccompanied choir (with an option for double choir) and recorded by them. Recording also by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes.

 

Lute Book Lullaby – Graeme Morton. Published by Augsburg Fortress. This is the lovely “sweet was the bong the virgin sang” text. Recording by The Lucian Singers available on iTunes. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

Morning Song of the Christ Child – Peter Sculthorpe. Published by Faber. One of the most quintessential Australian pieces on this list, and as enigmatic a Christmas piece as you will find anywhere. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

Nativity – Matthew Orlovich. Published by Matthew Orlovich (www.mattheworlovich.com). Another quintessential Australian text to explore the wonder of Christmas as paralleled in the natural world. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

O Come Emanuel – Graeme Morton. Published by Graeme Morton (www.graememorton.com.au). While the traditional plainsong of this text conveys a marvelous sense of longing for what is to come, this version anticipates the event with obvious excitement and joy. For mixed choir and keyboard. Recording available by St Peters Chorale on iTunes.

 

O Come Emanuel – Ralph Morton. Published by Morton Music (Musical Resources, distributor). Ralph’s setting captures a wonderful sense of longing and quiet anticipation. For unaccompanied mixed voices. Available on itunes.

 

Ring Glad Bells – Graeme Morton. Published by Augsburg Fortress. A bright and cheerful celebration piece with some relaxed phrases in the middle. Recording by The Lucian Singers available on iTunes. Mixed voices and organ.

 

The Birthday of our King – Peter Sculthorpe. Published by Faber. Commissioned by King’s College Cambridge. A buoyant and energized work for unaccompanied mixed voices. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

This Christmas Night – Malcolm Williamson. Published by Weinberger. Few know that this former Master of the Queens Music was an Australian composer. This gem challenges us to make the Christmas story relevant to our modern world. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

We Welcome Summer – Clare Maclean. Published by Morton Music. Obviously a southern hemisphere work where the Epiphany is recast with images of brilliant light and sunshine. Recording by St John’s Cathedral available on iTunes. For unaccompanied mixed voices.

 

 

 

Graeme Morton

Choral Fellow

University of Queensland

Brisbane

Australia