The Faber Carol Book: SATB Choral 10 Books

Parry and Arch have curated a collection that genuinely reimagines Christmas repertoire rather than simply recycling it. The inclusion of original works alongside reimagined standards means your singers encounter both new music and familiar carols transformed by distinctive harmonic and rhythmic choices, keeping the December concert season from feeling formulaic.

Moving between centuries and continents within a single program. Medieval carols sit alongside spirituals and world music arrangements, while original compositions from respected contemporary writers add harmonic complexity and emotional depth. The collection feels intentional and thoughtfully curated rather than exhaustively comprehensive.

SATB choirs of intermediate to advanced ability preparing Christmas or winter holiday concerts. Directors seeking contemporary choral voices and fresh arrangements without sacrificing accessibility will find this collection particularly valuable.

• Explore the optional instrumental lines before your first rehearsal. Even if your ensemble lacks instrumentalists, knowing what those lines suggest about texture and balance will inform your choral shaping.
• The keyboard accompaniments are intentionally undemanding, freeing your accompanist to listen and respond to the choir's phrasing rather than wrestling with complex notation.
• Use the variety of moods within this collection strategically. Sequencing contemporary arrangements and original pieces alongside traditional carols creates natural pacing and sustains audience interest across a full Christmas program.

Build your December concert around this collection as the core repertoire, using its range of styles and moods to structure the entire program. The forty pieces provide enough material to program selectively across multiple performances or to fill a substantial Christmas concert without requiring supplementary carols.

• Reading SATB voicing with varied harmonic language
• Interpreting contemporary and traditional musical idioms in a single rehearsal cycle
• Responding to optional instrumental texture and balance suggestions during performance
• Building awareness of carols and sacred music from multiple cultural traditions