Christmas Eve Is Here: SATB Choral Octavo
French Carol / arr. Michael Larkin
Item: 00-PO-0000518
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A fresh approach to this early French carol. Polyphony resounds as sections of the choir perform unique and overlapping lines in a minor mode. Performance options include any combination of a cappella choir, handbells or tonechimes, piano, hand drum, and tambourine. Impressive.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000518
Instrumentation:
Handbell & Percussion
More about this title
About the Arranger: Michael Larkin
Dr. Michael Larkin has held leadership roles across multiple choral and orchestral organizations in the Delaware Valley for decades. As Director of Music Ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and founder of the New Ark Chorale, he has shaped the region's choral landscape while maintaining an active schedule as a guest conductor, festival clinician, and baritone soloist.
Larkin's compositional output spans over 300 works for choir, voice, piano, and orchestra, all published by major American houses. His arrangements honor traditional repertoire while bringing fresh harmonic and structural approaches to familiar melodies.
Why we love this
Larkin respects the carol's essence while refusing to settle for standard four-part homophony. The polyphonic texture gives every voice genuine musical material, and the minor mode transformation makes this feel both contemplative and unexpected for a Christmas piece. Directors will appreciate how the flexible instrumentation options let you adapt the arrangement to whatever resources you have on any given Sunday.
What to expect
The minor tonality casts this French carol in hushed, reverent light. Voices weave around each other like candlelight, creating a texture that feels both intricate and intimate, far removed from typical Christmas arrangements.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking a carol arrangement that respects liturgical or concert contexts without relying on familiar major-key sentimentality. This works equally well for church musicians, school choirs, and community ensembles comfortable with minor-mode harmonic language and polyphonic independence.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the overlapping lines with independence and clarity; each voice part should sing as if leading its own melody rather than supporting harmony.
- If adding handbells or tonechimes, let them double selected phrases to brighten texture without overwhelming the choir's natural resonance.
- Balance the minor tonality by maintaining steady breath support and avoiding rushed tempos; the contemplative mood needs space to settle.
- Experiment with the hand drum and tambourine placement; lighter articulation in ensemble sections keeps the energy flowing without sacrificing clarity.
How to use it
Slot this into a contemplative section of a Christmas concert or service, perhaps following faster, more celebratory pieces. Its polyphonic texture and minor mode make it ideal for an Advent program where reflection precedes festivity, or as part of a multicultural holiday set that moves beyond conventional major-key carols.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent melodic lines while hearing concurrent polyphonic textures
- Blending registers across overlapping vocal phrases in minor tonality
- Coordinating with optional instrumental parts (handbells, tonechimes, percussion) without losing choral integrity
- Sustaining tone control and phrase shaping in non-traditional harmonic language