At Christmas: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

Ešenvalds brings sophistication and emotional depth to Christmas programming without requiring virtuosic singers. This collection gives you access to his distinctive compositional voice across multiple Christmas texts, making it easy to build a cohesive seasonal concert around one composer's vision.

Ešenvalds's Christmas writing inhabits a luminous emotional space between reverence and intimate reflection. His harmonies glow with subtle color and unexpected movement, creating moments of quiet wonder that feel both personal and universal, never saccharine or overly sentimental.

This collection suits intermediate to advanced choral ensembles with steady ensemble blend and secure reading skills. Directors programming concert or worship services will find repertoire that balances accessibility with artistic substance, appealing to singers who want to engage with contemporary sacred writing.

• Attend closely to text clarity; Ešenvalds's harmonic language can cloud diction if singers aren't singing through the phrases with intention. Mark breath points in rehearsal and resist the urge to separate chords artificially.
• Balance blend against definition. His transparent scoring means each voice part reads clearly, but singers sometimes push to be heard. Work for a unified sound at a moderate dynamic level.
• Shape long lines by following the text's natural cadence rather than relying on marked tempo changes. Let the words guide phrasing and inform where the musical weight should sit.
• Use the four-page format to rehearse sections strategically. Break the work into logical chunks by text or harmonic area rather than by page breaks.

This octavo works well as a centerpiece or closing selection in a Christmas concert, particularly in programs mixing traditional and contemporary repertoire. Its four-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a second half while remaining rehearsal-efficient for directors juggling holiday concert demands.

• Contemporary harmonic language and functional tonality in a choral context
• Text-driven phrasing and expressive singing across liturgical and secular Christmas texts
• Ensemble blend with transparent vocal scoring that exposes balance issues
• Attention to diction and clarity when singing over moving harmonic accompaniment