Christmas Eve (Version II): Mixed Voices (SSSAAATTBBB, handbells)

Ešenvalds refuses the easy path with Christmas music. Instead of nostalgia or bombast, he offers introspection; the integration of handbells adds textural sophistication without becoming gimmicky. This is the kind of contemporary holiday piece that respects your singers' intelligence and gives audiences something to genuinely contemplate.

Quiet but never fragile. The piece inhabits a contemplative space where handbells shimmer above and between sustained choral lines, creating a sense of candlelit clarity. Ešenvalds' harmonic language is modern without sounding cold; there's warmth in the dissonance.

Choirs with strong soprano and alto sections who can manage the divisi writing and are ready to move beyond conventional holiday standards. Directors programming a concert that values reflective, contemporary sacred music deserve this work.

• Balance the soprano divisi carefully so each line carries distinct weight; avoid letting the highest notes dominate the texture. The layering should feel integrated, not scattered.
• Coordinate with your handbell director early. The bells frame and color the voices rather than doubling them, so precise rhythmic clarity from the percussion section will let your choir sit inside the harmony confidently.
• Allow silence to breathe. Ešenvalds typically spaces phrases with intention. Rushing into the next entrance diminishes the piece's meditative quality.

Pair this with a mix of shorter seasonal works to create a concert program that deepens rather than decorates. The four-minute duration and meditative character make it ideal as a centerpiece moment before intermission or as a quiet bookend to a more energetic set.

• Reading soprano divisi in a four-part context
• Blending sustained harmonic tension with contemporary tonality
• Coordinating with instrumental accompaniment beyond traditional organ or piano
• Maintaining vocal line independence while listening horizontally across the ensemble