Christmas
24 recommended works by women composers for Christmas Eve.
Jane M. Joseph (1894–1929)
Text source: 1535 English translation of the hymn Vom Himmel hoch by Martin Luther
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SSA
Accompaniment: organ
Duration: 4:00
Language: Old English
Jane Joseph was student of Gustav Holst and assisted him in work. She also taugh music to Imogen Holst.
Brenda Portman (b. 1980)
Words by Paul Gerhardt, Catherine Winkworth
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: piano
Language: English
German Chorale Warum Sollt' Ich Mich Denn Gramen
Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)
Words by James Wedderburn, John Wedderburn, Robert Wedderburn
Reflects on Luke 2
Anthem · Young Trebles
Voicing: SS
Accompaniment: piano
Duration: 1:52
Language: English
Joanna Forbes L'Estrange (b. 1971)
Words by Timothy Dudley-Smith
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: organ
Duration: 4:30
Language: English
Words by Aodh Mac Aingil
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB · Solos: two solo voices
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 3:24
Language: Irish
Fanny Hensel (1805–1847)
Words by Wilhelm Müller
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB or TBTB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 2:00
Language: German or English
Margaret Vardell Sandresky (b. 1921)
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Language: English
Amy Beach (1867–1944)
Text source: Gloria in excelsis
Reflects on Gloria
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: organ
Duration: 3:25
Language: English
Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)
Words by Jean de Brébeuf
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 2:57
Language: English
Tawnie Olson (b. 1974)
Words by Mary Coleridge
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATBdiv
Accompaniment: a cappella
Language: English
#19 in Carols for Choirs 6
Words and music by Patricia Van Ness (b. 1951)
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SSATBdiv
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 3:58
Language: English
Text source: Anonymous
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 2:54
Language: English
Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)
Text source: St. Helena Island Spiritual; collected by N.G.J. Ballanta-Taylor, arr. E. Poston
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: U with descant
Accompaniment: guitar
Language: English
Poston arranged nearly 100 carols to be sung in their native, original style. She collected field recordings from England and the US. This carol is from South Carolina.
Brittany Elizabeth Boykin (b. 1989)
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SSAA
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 3:00
Language: Latin
Words and music by Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958)
Reflects on Luke 2:8-20
Anthem · Young Trebles/Soloist
Voicing: U
Accompaniment: piano
Duration: 1:25
Language: English
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SSAA
Accompaniment: handbells or piano
Language: English / Latin
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SAB
Accompaniment: organ
Duration: 4:00
Language: English
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Language: Latin
Helen Williams (b. 1969)
Reflects on John 1:1-5
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATBdiv
Accompaniment: viola
Language: English
Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)
Words by William Chatterton Dix
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: organ
Duration: 4:00
Language: English
Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)
Text source: Traditional
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SSAA
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 5:00
Language: English
Elizabeth Coxhead (b. 1987)
Text source: Gelineau
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 3:00
Language: French and English
Text source: Ancient English Christmas Carols 1400-1700
Reflects on John 1:14
Anthem · Choir
Voicing: SATB or TBTB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Duration: 2:30
Language: Latin/English
can be sung with two soloists SA or TB, and as SATB or TBTB
Words and music by Natalie Sleeth (1930–1992)
Reflects on the day’s overall theme.
Anthem · Young Trebles
Voicing: U or 2-pt
Accompaniment: piano, opt. handbells
Duration: 3:00
Language: English