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Chorus
2024
Organ
- Program Notes
- This piece was commissioned to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of The Winkleigh Singers, directed by the splendid Roland Smith, founded in 1984 . Alison says, 'I really enjoy working with choirs to develop a new piece of music that really fits them. We knew from the first meeting that we wanted to create a piece that resonated with the beautiful part of North Devon in which the choir is based and very early on in the process we happened across the Landkey Carols. The Landkey carolling tradition was started in 1892, with the establishment of a group of singers with local miller, baker and instrumentalist John Darch as the leader. Whilst many of the carols were well known, others are ‘pure Landkey’, composed specially for the group by a Mr Gully (and others) and it is these that form the basis for this Fantasia. The carol singing tradition died out in the 1970s, but there are still some villagers who remember being part of the group. They would travel round through the village and further afield to other local villages, both singers and instrumentalists and the perambulations would sometimes go on into the early hours! A revival project was established, in partnership with Wren Music, after a consultation event in the village in December 2017 and more information can be found at https://www.landkeysings.co.uk/ We are very grateful for their kindness and support in allowing us to re-imagine these unique carols. Appendix A contains the original Landkey Carols and a brief commentary on how they appear in the Fantasia. The other influence apparent in the music is that of Devon Call Changes, a method of bell ringing found in the West Country. This can be heard particularly in the ‘bing’ sounds at the start and the organ at the end, based on the peal of call changes ‘Sixty on Thirds’. We experimented with all kinds of sounds to achieve a bell-like effect and it was, somewhat to our surprise ‘bing’ that seemed to create the most authentic sound.' Appendix B contains a reduced score to facilitate page turns in PART I. Commissioned by The Winkleigh Singers in celebration of their fortieth anniversary through gifts, grants and other donations by friends and supporters of the choir. FANTASIA ON CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM LANDKEY - TEXT Ring the bells, tuneful bells, well they chime the wondrous story, Ring the bells, tuneful bells, greet the King of glory! Once more the sweet melodious sound, the pleasing echoes sounding round. Once more the sweet melodious sound salutes the happy morn. The pleasing echoes sounding round. Shepherds dismiss your fears. Behold the bright celestial band commissioned from above, Visits our dark benighted land With news of heav’nly love. What are these soul reviving strains that echo down from Salem’s plains? What anthems loud and louder still so sweetly sound from Zion’s thrill? Hosanna! Now hear the youthful chorus sing Hosanna to the King of Kings, Nor these alone their voice shall raise for we will join their song of praise. Hosanna! Once more the sweet melodious sound. Forever more amen. Come and worship Christ the newborn King! Ring the bells, tuneful bells, well they chime the wondrous story, Ring the bells, tuneful bells, greet the King of glory! Now hear the youthful chorus sing Hosanna to the King of Kings, Hosanna! Amen.
- Recording Notes
- Commissioned and performed here by The Winkleigh Singers (dir. Roland Smith) to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.
- Performer Credits
- The Winkleigh Singers
- Publisher
- Composers Edition
- External Links