Gabriel's Message (The Basque Carol)
For SATB Choir with Harp or Keyboard
“My goal with this arrangement was to set the 14th century French, melancholy tune over an accompaniment that painted a wintery landscape. Mary must have been scared, unsure, lonely… at least in the beginning. But she must have also felt joy and elation at the prospect of carrying the Son of God - in the fourth, verse the harp accompaniment becomes florid and the melancholy nature of the minor tune is overcome by the major sonority. For the final iteration of the word “Gloria” the piece returns to the original key of a minor - a proleptic foreshadowing of her pain and heartbreak at Christ’s crucifixion.”
Gabriel’s Message was written in Advent of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Christ Church was only allowed 4 singers, who had to be masked and spaced at intervals of 15ft. Naturally, because of this, there is no divisi in this setting.
For SATB Choir with Harp or Keyboard
“My goal with this arrangement was to set the 14th century French, melancholy tune over an accompaniment that painted a wintery landscape. Mary must have been scared, unsure, lonely… at least in the beginning. But she must have also felt joy and elation at the prospect of carrying the Son of God - in the fourth, verse the harp accompaniment becomes florid and the melancholy nature of the minor tune is overcome by the major sonority. For the final iteration of the word “Gloria” the piece returns to the original key of a minor - a proleptic foreshadowing of her pain and heartbreak at Christ’s crucifixion.”
Gabriel’s Message was written in Advent of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Christ Church was only allowed 4 singers, who had to be masked and spaced at intervals of 15ft. Naturally, because of this, there is no divisi in this setting.
For SATB Choir with Harp or Keyboard
“My goal with this arrangement was to set the 14th century French, melancholy tune over an accompaniment that painted a wintery landscape. Mary must have been scared, unsure, lonely… at least in the beginning. But she must have also felt joy and elation at the prospect of carrying the Son of God - in the fourth, verse the harp accompaniment becomes florid and the melancholy nature of the minor tune is overcome by the major sonority. For the final iteration of the word “Gloria” the piece returns to the original key of a minor - a proleptic foreshadowing of her pain and heartbreak at Christ’s crucifixion.”
Gabriel’s Message was written in Advent of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Christ Church was only allowed 4 singers, who had to be masked and spaced at intervals of 15ft. Naturally, because of this, there is no divisi in this setting.