frumuspub.starlitnight.notes

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"A Starlit Night It Was in Bethlehem"
Anthem for Choir and Organ
A Four Verse Christmas Carol
for Soprano Solo, SATB, and SAB Voices with Organ (8 pages)
Text, Music and Setting by Ennis Fruhauf

Notes

          A Starlit Night It Was In Bethlehem is a hymn-based verse anthem on an original text and tune, composed in the tradition of an English Christmas carol. It features four verses in varied settings, including an opening verse sung in four voices (SATB) harmony with organ accompaniment; a verse for alto solo; an a cappella variation in three voices; and finally a festive free harmonization with a soaring soprano descant and celebratory "Hallelujah!" in conclusion.

        Following a brief organ introduction, the text of the first verse is presented in four-voice harmony by choir and organ; the introspective words portray the mother Mary at cradleside, filled with wonder, awe and fear for her new born child. In the second verse, an alto solo depicts mother and child in their starlit nighttime tableau. A modulatory transition leads to the third verse for three voices; here the crèche scene is viewed from a wider perspective with angels ranged as guardians around the crib.

        After a brief retransition to the original tonic key, the fourth and final verse offers a free harmonization of the hymn tune, sung by unison voices with sopranos soaring above in descant. The text is celebratory and prophetic of the joys of the Christmas feast and birth of a new era. A closing “Hallelujah” rings out the anthem with a positive and triumphant peal.

        A starlit night it was in Bethlehem is a festive work that makes technical demands on the performing ensemble: in addition to an a cappella verse, the concluding free harmonization assigns the hymn tune's melodic line to unison voices without accompanimental support.