Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Anniversary Carols) Cover Image

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Anniversary Carols): Mixed Chorus, SATB, Choral Score

$2.40 USD
$2.40 USD
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Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Anniversary Carols) Cover Image
Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Anniversary Carols): Mixed Chorus, SATB, Choral Score

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Anniversary Carols): Mixed Chorus, SATB, Choral Score

By Jackson Berkey, Traditional French Carol. Translated to English.

Item: 36-J95101
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Description
IL EST NE LE DIVIN ENFANT is a traditional French melody with a text which first appeared about 1875. The decision to set this familiar tune in English left enough to be desired that the composer decided to maintain some of the French style lost in the lingual translation. Historically, this arrangement also compares nicely with the old Normandy hunting tune's original appearance in 6/8 meter. The tambour is a drum similar to a snare drum but played with the snares off. A "bolero" rhythm begins quietly in the tambour and continues throughout the song. There is a dance in the vocal rhythms, as well, but an additional striking quality is the singers' silky phrases that seem to pull and stretch and weave layer upon layer of resonance. Lush sonorities provide the wrapping to this charming arrangement.

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Additional Details
Series: SDGBerkey - LudwigMasters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 660355104756
SKU: 36-J95101
Instrumentation: SATB Chorus with Tambour (SD), Harp, and Double Bass

More about this title

Why we love this

Berkey's arrangement honors the French carol's heritage while writing idiomatically for English-singing choirs, a feat that lesser arrangements miss entirely. The bolero rhythm in the tambour creates architectural continuity beneath vocal lines that breathe and stretch like dancers, giving singers genuine musical work to do beyond straightforward hymn singing.

What to expect

A carol that dances rather than marches. The bolero rhythm creates forward motion while the vocal lines weave in and out of each other like silk ribbons, building warmth through accumulated resonance rather than volume. There is elegance and movement in every phrase.

Who it's for

Mixed choirs seeking a Christmas work with genuine sophistication and foreign language heritage without requiring French fluency. This arrangement suits groups comfortable with rhythmic independence and able to sustain lyrical, layered singing across moderate difficulty.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the vocal phrases with the natural elasticity Berkey builds into the rhythms; resist the impulse to drive straight through. The pull and stretch of the melodic lines should feel conversational, not metronomic.
  • Balance the tambour bolero carefully. It should establish the dance without overwhelming the singers. A lighter touch with the snares off creates the authentic quality Berkey specifies.
  • Layer the harmonic textures deliberately. The arrangement's lush sonorities depend on each voice part singing with full tone and commitment. Thin singing will flatten the wrapping Berkey intends.
  • Let the harp and double bass support the singers' phrasing rather than anchor it to strict meter. The rhythmic breathing should feel collaborative across all forces.

How to use it

Program this as the jewel in a holiday concert's second half, where its rhythmic sophistication and lush sound will stand out against more familiar, straightforward carols. It works beautifully in a program that mixes traditional and contemporary holiday literature, or as a centerpiece in a concert built around international Christmas repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining lyrical, connected phrasing across changing harmonic motion
  • Balancing independent rhythmic lines while maintaining ensemble cohesion
  • Blending layered vocal textures to create lush, resonant sonorities
  • Interpreting dance rhythms in vocal music with flexibility rather than rigidity
  • Coordinating with auxiliary percussion and instrumental accompaniment

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