Carols for Quartet: Original Holiday Music
James Nathaniel Holland
About this work:
CAROLS FOR QUARTET
You'll not hear one Christmas carol you'll know, because this original work is intended for inclusion in concert. It's based on five poems that I wrote (see below).
I ran out of money and performer's time to get Movement III. recorded, so if you know of any grants or would like to make a donation to support the music, help me out and contact me.
PERFORMERS:
Violin I: Kiku Enomoto
Violin II: Anthony Tse
Viola: Elizabeth Jaffe
Cello: Brian Hatton
I. SKATING (Recording included)
I cannot skate as well as Kevin,
He glides and twirls so effortlessly
Over bumpy ice.
He has tried to teach me,
But I don't have patience,
Nor a solid rump to learn.
It's getting dark now.
Thick snow-clouds engulfing the orange ball.
Winter night reclaiming the frozen world sooner than it should.
Snow sparkling in glowing sunsets,
Crystals riding chilly breezes.
As effortlessly as Kevin does on ice.
His mitten takes my mitten.
A secret kiss upon my red, exposed cheek.
He laughs and we head back to the house,
Which seems so far in the snow.
Another kiss, another lesson, waits upon another day.
II. AT THE TABLE (Recording included)
Mother said,
Scrub every nook
And cranny,
So here I sit,
Dressed like the turkey,
Soon to be stuffed like him too.
Church is later,
A pageant in which
I play the disbeliever,
A small part that
Mrs. Hartman says
Is the most important
I know it's not true.
Mother smiles at me,
Helping me take hold
A spoon of mash potatoes.
III. LITTLE BRITCHES
Who is this
That stalks the night,
With red, pointed cap and little britches?
Carrying a sack of switches
For bad little girls and boys.
Look closely,
For on beams of lunar light,
Undercover in quiet room.
Away to work, they hum their tune
Whilst others hoist sacks of toys
For better acting girls and boys.
Scent of evergreen
Luster of the red, holly's berry,
Lures them hither
From Arctic realms that make one shiver,
Tis Christmas eve, a time of miracles.
IV. BARN DANCE (Recording included)
Good morrow, good morrow!
We come to carol you.
Away to the Smith's, and then to the Parker's
We come to carol you.
To awaken your hearts and bring you along,
Along to the dance at the barn,
So trimmed in holly and boughs of fir.
Hay over spilling the loft's edge.
Then Clap! Clap! Away we go!
The caller only knowing the steps to take.
The fiddle singing and ringing above the beat.
Clap! Clap! Join in! Join in!
Round and round
In a square, then in a circle.
Quite dizzy, quite happy.
V. THE MIDNIGHT SLEIGH RIDE (Recording included; together with Barn Dance Track (attaca))
Across snow, barren landscapes,
My driver flies through the dark night.
It has been so long now.
I die to think I shall see my lover again.
To feel the warm glow of firelight.
Can the mule go no faster?
It's pace too steady, the jingle bells too measured.
Poor beast, driven by whip and call.
Icy smoke flares from its nostrils.
A sweet apple and oats I will reward it soon.
But now, press on, press for me.
Giddyap, good beast!
Tomorrow is Christmas!
Poems copyright 2000 James Nathaniel Holland
Year composed: 2001
Duration: 08:00:20
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:String Quartet
Instrumentation: 2 Violin,1 Violin soloist(s), 1 Viola, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: Players must tap on the instrument's body in one movement.