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Welcome to Chorus Choral Highlights 2020 New and recent Christmas, sacred, and secular choral publishing from Oxford Stream now on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Apple, Pandora, Amazon, Google Music, Deezer, KKbox, Primephonic and many more. Search for ‘Oxford Choral Highlights 2020’. The performances by The Oxford Choir are directed by Bob Chilcott and produced, engineered, and edited by John Rutter. Inside p.3 p.9 p.12 p.13 p.19 p.20 p.21 p.22 Understanding difficulty descriptions in Chorus Very Easy: straightforward harmonies and rhythms; mostly homophonic with no large vocal ranges; usually with supportive accompaniment Easy: mostly rhythmically straightforward; possible straightforward key changes; limited amounts of divisi in places Moderately Difficult: more complex rhythms and counterpoint and/or harmonies; ranges may be broader; key and time changes and possible divisi throughout Difficult: often include multiple key and time changes; demanding vocal lines; divisi sections; complex rhythms 2 Find Oxford Choral on Facebook for inspiration, news, and resources for the choral world

New repertoire for Advent Recent and secular Christmas music David Bednall Make We Merry This eight-movement piece sets texts from the 15th to 19th centuries to a variety of choral textures with a highly characterful accompaniment. A vast array of sentiments is depicted, from quiet expectance and gentle wonder to boisterous jubilation, and the different movements provide a wonderfully paced journey through these moods. The final movement brings back motifs from the opening and grows to a thrillingly climactic ending. Also available in the original SSAA version. David Bednall David has been busy writing a number of new pieces including a large-scale anthem for The Birmingham Bach Choir and Paul Spicer, entitled The Dear Bargain. The commission is to mark the centenary of the choir and will be premiered on 4 April at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, UK Photo credit: Iain MacLeod-Jones SATB and organ, and optional brass ensemble and timpani 25 mins, Easy–Moderately Difficult SATB vocal score: 978-0-19-353353-0 | Published April 2020 SSAA vocal score: 978-0-19-352653-2 | Published May 2019 ‘‘ David Bednall Make We Merry . . . well projects the tender and comforting emotions brought on by Christmas. Jean-Yves Duperron, http://www.classicalmusicsentinel.com Sweet was the song from Make We Merry This carol uses a straightforward and lyrical unison line in the first soprano part, with an imitative second soprano part joining towards the end. The organ accompaniment gently underpins the tender vocal lines throughout. SS and organ 3 mins, Easy 978-0-19-353099-7 | Published July 2019 David Bednall Hail, heavenly beam A powerful and joyful setting of a 9th-century Advent prayer. Coloured by rich harmonies and tonal shifts, the piece opens briskly before propelling itself towards a rousing conclusion. SATB unaccompanied 3 1 /2 mins, Easy–Moderately Difficult 978-0-19-353520-6 | Published April 2020 John Rutter Christ our Emmanuel A lilting 3/4 metre carries the listener through this familiar Christmas story, beautifully depicted in a text by the composer. Rutter employs artful wordpainting throughout, and the verse-refrain structure means the compelling melody will soon become as familiar as any traditional carol. SATB and piano or organ or instrumental trio 4 mins, Easy Vocal score (with piano): 978-0-19-353513-8 Vocal score (with organ): 978-0-19-354081-1 Instrumental score and parts (fl, ob, hp): 978-0-19-353517-6 All publishing April 2020 To listen to recordings, visit www.oup.com/sheetmusic or search on Spotify 3