Three Fantasies on Christmas Carols (for chorus and orchestra)
Douglas Townsend
About this work:
The carols are: The Coventry Carol, All through the Night, and The Wassail Song.
They can be played in any order or separately, with or without chorus. The first two were composed in 1991 and 1990, with the Wassail Song being completed in 2008. The three fantasies premiered with chorus on December 19, 2008, at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT, with Gerald Steichen conducting the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the New Haven Chorale. The holiday program was repeated in Fairfield and Shelton (CT) on December 20 and 21, 2008. See article in the New Haven Register, Dec. 14, 2008, Arts Section (E1, E4).
Year composed: 2008
Duration: 00:15:00
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus with Orchestra
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 2 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Strings (General), 1 Harp, 1 S, 1 A, 1 T, 1 B
Instrumentation notes: Flute 2 doubles piccolo. In the first fantasy, "Coventry Carol," there are several substantial harp solos. In the second fantasy, "All through the Night," there is at least one solo for harp. In the third fantasy,"Wassail Song," there is no harp. First and third fantasies require Chor(SATB). The second may be unison chorus or SATB.