Embedded Files
The Music Program for WVC’s Fall 2025 Concerts
(In concert order)
A Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten
Four Motets for Christmas Francis Poulenc
Intermission
Holiday Favorites arr. by Roger Emerson
Do You Hear What I Hear? by Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne
arr. by Harry Simeone
Hot Chocolate! by Andy Beck & Brian Fisher
Kindle the Hanukkah Lights by Linda Marcus & Sherri Porterfield
Light A Candle by Marta Keen
arr. by Jay Althouse
Grandma’s Killer Fruitcake by Elmo Shropshire & Rita Abrams
arr. by Roger Emerson
Run to the Manger Edward. Caswall & John W. Work
arr. by Victor C. Johnson
First Noel/Pachelbel’s Canon arr. by Michael Clawson
Select Christmas Carols arr. by Ron De Fesi
Hallelujah G.F. Handel
You can download and print out this list from the "Documents" box at the bottom of this page.
*** Note: These pieces are no longer included in the WVC's Fall 2025 Music Program: Silver Bells, Twas The Night Before Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Sleigh Ride and The Christmas Song. If you have not already done so, return the scores for these pieces to the Librarian, Viviana Holmes.
Here is the Wikipedia article about Britten's Ceremony: Click here.
Here is a brief Wikipedia article (in French) about Poulenc's Motets. Click here.
Practice Aids
When starting to learn the pieces of the music program, focus on the pitches and rhythms. Sing along with these aids using for text a single syllable, such as "ba" or "ma". When you are you comfortable with the pitches and rhythms, start blending in the text to the music lines. The goal is that you have learned the notes, rhythms and text suffiently so that in rehearsal and the concerts you can follow the conductor as he shapes the dynamics and tempi and we all "make wonderful music!"
Click here for Practice Tracks for Sopranos.
Click here for Practice Tracks for Altos.
Click here for Practice Tracks for Tenors.
Click here for Practice Tracks for Basses.
When you are feeling comfortable singing along with the tracks in your voice (above), sing along with these "all voices" tracks to better simulate the rehearsal and concert experiences:
Click here for Practice Tracks for "all voices".
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Here is a recording of the WVC performing A Ceremony of Carols at their Fall concert in December, 2007. Click here.
Here is a collection of recordings of the Warwick Valley Chorale performing in previous years the selections in the Holiday section of the Fall 2025 program. Click here to sing along with these recordings.
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Diction and rhythms
Maestro De Fesi recorded tracks so you can practice your diction and rhythms on some of the trickier movements in A Ceremony of Carols. The Glossary can be found either in the beginning or end of your score depending on the edition. In There is no Rose, concentrate on the rhythms - in particular the triplets.
Stream and/or download these tracks here:
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Cyberbass and Choralia have excellent practice aids for the Britten's Ceremony.
For Poulenc's Christmas Motets, click on these links
Choralia's offerings:
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YouTube video of Britten's A Ceremony of Carols:
by the The Columbine Chorale: Click here.
1. Procession Click here
2. Wolcum Yole! Click here
3. There is no Rose Click here
4a. That youngë child Click here
4b. Balulalow Click here
5. As dew in Aprille Click here
6. This little Babe Click here
7. Interlude Click here
8. In Freezing Winter Night Click here
9. Spring Carol Click here
10. Deo Gracias Click here
11. Recession Click here
Also: St Jacobs Vokalensemble (in German): Click here
YouTube videos of Poulenc's Motets
Scrolling-score practice video:
Francis Poulenc - Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël (audio + sheet music)
John Rutter's Cambridge Singers performing Poulenc's Motets:
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YouTube videos of some of the selections in the Holiday section of the program. A big WVC "Thank You" to Doug McGlynn for finding these video links.
Do You Hear What I Hear Click here
Grandma’s Killer Fruitcake (*) Click here
Hallelujah Click here
Hot Chocolate! Click here
Light A Candle Click here
(*) Music starts at about 50 seconds from the beginning of the video.
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Documents for Fall 2025
The vocal score for the Poulenc's "Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël" (Four Motets for the Christmas Season) can be viewed, downloaded and printed from the box below. Also the vocal score for Ron's arrangments of "Select Christmas Carols" can be downloaded.
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