The Angels Cover Image

The Angels: SATB Choral Octavo

$4.50 USD
$4.50 USD
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The Angels Cover Image
The Angels: SATB Choral Octavo

The Angels: SATB Choral Octavo

By Jonathan Harvey

Item: 12-0571515320
$4.50
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Description
Commissioned for the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Cambridge on Christmas Eve, 1994. Harvey uses words by Bishop Taylor in a beautiful melody sung by one choir, accompanied by a second wordless choir providing harmonic support.

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Additional Details
Series: Faber Edition
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-51532-0
ISBN13: 978-0-571-51532-5
UPC: 9780571515325
SKU: 12-0571515320

More about this title

About the Composer: Jonathan Harvey

Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012) was a British composer whose work bridged spectral and electronic music with deep engagement in spiritual and liturgical traditions. His compositional voice combined rigorous harmonic innovation with accessibility, making him a vital figure in late twentieth-century sacred music. Harvey held teaching positions at universities including Southampton and Stanford, and his commissioned works for major institutions and cathedrals reflect his commitment to creating music that serves both artistic and devotional purposes.

Why we love this

Harvey's design here is elegantly functional: one choir carries the text while the other maintains harmonic fabric, which solves the practical problem of keeping words clear while achieving rich, supported sonority. The piece honors the King's College Christmas tradition without pretension, and the wordless choir part offers flexibility for balancing rehearsal challenges with musical ambition.

What to expect

The piece unfolds with luminous restraint, the melody simple enough to serve the text while the harmonic undercurrent creates an atmosphere of quiet reverence. There is something both contemporary and timeless about the sonority, a quality that makes it feel both of its moment and belonging to the eternal.

Who it's for

Directors planning a Christmas service with sufficient choral resources will find this piece ideal for the Nine Lessons and Carols tradition or similar liturgical settings. The piece works well for ensembles with developed sight-reading skills and comfort sustaining independent harmonic lines.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the two choral forces carefully during early rehearsals. The first choir must project the text distinctly while the second choir provides support without overwhelming; consider seating them in different configurations to hear how proximity and acoustic reflection affect blend.
  • Attend to the harmonic motion underneath the melody line. The wordless choir's part moves with intention, and precise tuning in that layer will deepen the overall sound quality considerably.
  • Shape the text-bearing melody as you would a solo line: give it breathing room, dynamic contour, and forward motion even though it is sung by an entire choir.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece in a Christmas Eve service or a reflective anchor in a mixed-repertoire holiday concert. Its intimate scale and spiritual focus create a marked contrast with celebratory or more elaborate seasonal works, making it a natural pairing alongside congregational hymns or other meditative pieces.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining independent harmonic lines while others sing text
  • Balancing ensemble sonority across two separate choral groups
  • Tuning elevated harmonic structures with precision
  • Shaping a melody that serves liturgical text without sacrificing musical shape

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