Minstrels (Vocal Score)

PATRICK HAWES

Minstrels

for unaccompanied SATB choir

Vocal Score

ISBN 978-1-910623-75-6

forperusalonly

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Minstrels

for unaccompanied SATB choir

forperusalonly PATRICK HAWES

Duration: circa 3 minutes

The minstrels played their Christmas tune To-night beneath my cottage-eaves; While, smitten by a lofty moon, The encircling laurels, thick with leaves, Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen, That overpowered their natural green.

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Through hill and valley every breeze Had sunk to rest with folded wings: Keen was the air, but could not freeze, Nor check, the music of the strings; So stout and hardy were the band That scraped the chords with strenuous hand. And who but listened?-till was paid Respect to every inmate’s claim, The greeting given, the music played In honour of each household name, Duly pronounced with lusty call, And ‘Merry Christmas’ wished to all.

Words: William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)

Composer’s Note

Upper and lower voices are divided into two distinct choral ‘worlds’ here. The sopranos and altos narrate Wordsworth’s majestic text while tenors and basses take on the role of minstrels playing ’their Christmas tune’. In performance, it may be preferable to have physical space between the two groups but this should not be seen as obligatory. The lower voices, in so far that it is achievable, should aim to create a sense of a strummed guitar, and their tone should be sotto voce throughout. The much more prominent upper voices should provide shape and contrast within the strophic format. Above all else, the storytelling of the text must always be clearly conveyed to the audience.

Wordsworth

Minstrels

PATRICK HAWES

The molto legato min strels - played their Christ masWith quiet joy h = c.62 The molto legato min strels - played their Christ mas -

Th’en cir - cling - lau rels, - thick with leaves, Gave back a

Th’en cir - cling - lau rels, - thick with leaves, Gave back a

lof ty - - - moon, lau rels green,

lof ty - - - moon, lau rels green,

rich and daz zling - sheen, That o ver - -

rich and daz zling - sheen, That o ver - -

lau rels - green gave back a daz zling - sheen,

lau rels - green gave back a daz zling - sheen, power’d their na tural - green

of the strings; So stout and har dy - were the

of the strings; So stout and har dy - were the sic, - the

of the band sic, - the

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Four Christmas Motets

Virga Jesse | Puer Natus | Nesciens Mater | Gaudete Omnes for unaccompanied SATB choir

King Jesus Hath A Garden for SSAA and organ

Let Us Love for SATB choir and piano

Lullay My Liking for unaccompanied ATBarB choir

Peace

Beyond Thought

for unaccompanied SATB choir

The Edenham Eucharist

a communion setting (Common Worship, Order One) for celebrant, congregation, organ and optional SATB choir

The Nativity

The Manger | The Infant | The Oxen | The Shepherds | The Star | The Magi for unaccompanied SATB choir

What Child Is

This?

for unaccompanied SATB choir

ISBN 978-1-910623-75-6