A Ceremony of Carols

'Christmas carols' from the Renaissance

The 'Christmas Carols' are largely the product of Renaissance writers and were partly composed when Britons returned to Britain by ship from the United States. It is one of his best-known and most performed works. The carols are written for three-part children's voices or female voices and form a 2-part work around a central intermezzo for harp, based on the Gregorian melody of the procession.

Beautiful solos and duets

Variety is the key word here, because each song has such an identity of its own. The powerful Wolcum Yole! , the wonderfully lyrical There is no Rose , the swinging Balulalow and the fiery and dramatic This little Babe all contribute to a work that is a journey of discovery in itself. Beautiful solos and duets add further colour, and the harp section, an inspired choice as accompaniment, enriches, colours and envelops the voices with its evocative musical language. If there is one thing that makes Britten's genius for writing for voices stand out, see, it must be this work.