Peter Lawson
THE INTERMEZZO CAROL
Goodmusic Concert Chorals GMCH024
Catalogue Number: GMCH024
Difficulty level: D What's this?
ISMN: 9790222340077
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Orchestration: 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns in F
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
Choir (SATB or SA+Men or SSA or TTBB)
This is the seventh carol in a series written with words to match well-known pieces from the classical repertoire, in this case, the middle movement of Schumann’s much loved Piano Concerto, composed for his wife, Clara. This short movement is in ABA form, which would lead into the Finale in the concerto, but here ends in the same way as the playful opening section. In the lyrics, a little bird sings of the Angel voices announcing the birth of the Son of God. The birds quickly spread the news and soon all the other birds and creatures in the area are transfixed by the heavenly choruses.
The passionate middle section, with its beautiful ‘cello melody in the original, conveys the wonder of the tremendous occasion. The return of the opening section switches to the lowly stable, where baby Jesus is asleep in a makeshift cradle, with ox and ass keeping him warm from the chilly night air. Mary and Joseph smile down wondering and, at the same time, worrying about how his foretold future will come to be.
The original Intermezzo is in 2/4 time, but as choirs are more used to quavers, crotchets and minims rather more spaced out in nature than semiquavers, especially when set to words, this version is in cut-common time with all note values doubled; but it will sound the same!
In this arrangement, I have kept as far as possible to Schumann’s orchestration, but giving the piano part generally to the woodwind, particularly to the oboes, who were absent from the original orchestration of this movement. Peter Lawson
Duration 5 minutes
A PACK includes a full score plus all wind, brass and strings 4/4/3/4/2.
Choral copies are available separately: SATB - GM563, SA+Men - GM564, SSA - GM565, TTBB - GM566.
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
Choir (SATB or SA+Men or SSA or TTBB)
This is the seventh carol in a series written with words to match well-known pieces from the classical repertoire, in this case, the middle movement of Schumann’s much loved Piano Concerto, composed for his wife, Clara. This short movement is in ABA form, which would lead into the Finale in the concerto, but here ends in the same way as the playful opening section. In the lyrics, a little bird sings of the Angel voices announcing the birth of the Son of God. The birds quickly spread the news and soon all the other birds and creatures in the area are transfixed by the heavenly choruses.
The passionate middle section, with its beautiful ‘cello melody in the original, conveys the wonder of the tremendous occasion. The return of the opening section switches to the lowly stable, where baby Jesus is asleep in a makeshift cradle, with ox and ass keeping him warm from the chilly night air. Mary and Joseph smile down wondering and, at the same time, worrying about how his foretold future will come to be.
The original Intermezzo is in 2/4 time, but as choirs are more used to quavers, crotchets and minims rather more spaced out in nature than semiquavers, especially when set to words, this version is in cut-common time with all note values doubled; but it will sound the same!
In this arrangement, I have kept as far as possible to Schumann’s orchestration, but giving the piano part generally to the woodwind, particularly to the oboes, who were absent from the original orchestration of this movement. Peter Lawson
Duration 5 minutes
A PACK includes a full score plus all wind, brass and strings 4/4/3/4/2.
Choral copies are available separately: SATB - GM563, SA+Men - GM564, SSA - GM565, TTBB - GM566.
