- "A Symphony of Carols"
- "A Celebration of Lessons and Carols"
- "A Wreath of Carols"
- "The Birth of Jesus" (Cantata)
SHORTER WORKS: INSTRUMENTAL
Christmas Music: Longer WorksA Symphony of Carols
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A joyful celebration of the Christmas season, this is a large-scale 45-minute work for SATB choir, soprano soloist, organ, and a rather large chamber orchestra.
Click here to learn more about this piece and to hear sound clips. To order the CD, click here.
A Celebration of Lessons and Carols
A service of lessons and carols, with newly-arranged carol settings scored for SATB choir, soprano soloist, organ, and chamber orchestra.
This piece is in the planning stages. To learn more about it, click here.
(Most of these carols are also appropriate for a concert setting and could be performed individually.)
An eclectic service of original carols by Peter, Ethel, and Richard Bloesch, scored for SATB choir with soprano, alto, and tenor soloists, with various accompaniments, including organ and strings (at least 3, 3, 2, 1, 1).
Click here to learn more about these carols.
A neo-Baroque Christmas cantata based on the Christmas story from Luke, using four verses of “Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her” as interpolations; Scored for SATB choir, 2 soprano soloists, and chamber orchestra: 1 flute, 1 oboe, and strings (at least 3, 3, 2, 1, 1); Ca. 35 mins.
Click here to learn more about this piece.
Christmas Music: Shorter Works: Choral and VocalA Collection of A Cappella Carols — NEW!
You can select any number of individual carol arrangements and original carols from this ever-growing collection. This collection of carols is intended as a resource for all kinds of choral groups, whether they perform in a concert or church setting.
Click here to learn more about this collection of carols.
Ding Dong! Merrily on High (introit)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
This brief and energetic setting of “Ding Dong! Merrily on High" makes a rousing opening to a church service or concert; Written for SATB choir a cappella; Ca. 1 min.
Sing, All Men! 'Tis Christmas Morning (carol)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A jaunty Christmas carol by Peter Bloesch scored for SATB choir and organ; Words are from a quaint traditional Kentucky text (which can be changed to “Sing WeAll...”); Ca. 3 mins.
All My Heart This Night Rejoices (chorale motet)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A contrapuntal motet based on the chorale melody “Warum Sollt Ich”; For SATB choir a cappella or doubled by oboe and/or strings; Suitable as an introit or as a short anthem; Ca. 2 mins.
Once in Royal David's City (carol)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A new musical setting of the familiar text, written for SATB choir a cappella; Text by Cecil F. Alexander (1848); Ca. 3.5 mins. when all four verses are sung;
Note: I expanded and orchestrated this carol for use in "A Symphony of Carols."
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (carol)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
An original carol for SATB choir a cappella; Anonymous text from an early American collection, 1784; Ca. 2.5 mins. when all five verses are sung
Whence Is This Frangrance? (carol)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A short canon for 2-part choir (SA/TB) accompanied by piano or organ; Ca. 1 min.
A Setting of Three English Carols
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A short quodlibet for 2 voices and keyboard (preferably piano), using these three carols:
- Voice 1: “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day”
- Voice 2: “I Saw Three Ships”
- Keyboard: “Sussex Carol”
The 2 voice parts could be 2 soloists, or divided SATB choir (SA/TB), or divided women's choir; This carol could be sung through twice, with voice 1 as SA and voice 2 as TB the first time, and then switching the parts for the repeat; Ca. 30 seconds (or 1 min. if sung through twice)
Various pieces for SSAA choir with piano accompaniment, including:
- “How Far Is It to Bethlehem?”
A gently flowing arrangement of an traditional English carol; Words by Frances Chesterton; Ca. 3 mins.
- “Wassail!”
A lively arrangement of the traditional Gloucestershire Wassail; Ca. 2 mins.
(Note: I'm in the process of composing more holiday carols for SSAA chorus with piano accompaniment, and plan to create a set of them.)
On the Morning of Christ's Nativity (song cycle)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A neo-Baroque song cycle for baritone solo with piano accompaniment; Ca. 10 mins.; Text: Four excerpts from John Milton's “On the Morning of Christ's Nativity” (1629):
- “This is the month, and this the happy morn,”
- “It was the winter wild,”
- “But peaceful was the night,” and
- “Ring out, ye crystal spheres”
Christmas Music: Shorter Works: InstrumentalA Christmas Interlude for Strings (offertory)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
A lush arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Quem Pastores”; Scored for strings (at least 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, with an optional version containing a divided cello part); Ca. 3 mins.
- Hear sound clip of the first carol ("In the Bleak Midwinter") (Note: This is not a professional recording.)
A Christmas Interlude for Oboe and Organ (offertory)
A four-minute offertory written for oboe soloist with organ accompaniment, consisting of two contrasting carol arrangements:
- “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming” is slow and meditative, and
- “The Sussex Carol” is quick and sprightly
- Hear sound clip of entire piece (Note: This is not a professional recording.)
Blessed Be That Maid, Mary (organ prelude or offertory)
A meditative organ piece in the romantic impressionist style of Kodály, based on the traditional English tune; Ca. 4 mins.
- Hear a sound clip of "Blessed Be That Maid, Mary” in its entirety
(Note: This recording was made during the offertory of a church service, so it's a bit "noisy” in places.)
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (offertory)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
An arrangement of the traditional British version of this carol, scored for 2 flutes, 1 bassoon, and keyboard (preferably organ); Ca. 4 mins.
Christmas Suite for Two Violins and Piano (prelude or offertory)
(Also appropriate for a concert setting)
This piece was designed to offer a very simple piano part; The violin parts are of moderate difficulty; Ca. 7 mins.; The suite contains these carols:
- “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,”
- “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,”
- “What Child Is This,”
- “Good King Wenceslas,” and
- “Personent Hodie”
