Embedded Files
The Program for WVC’s Fall 2025 Season
A Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten
1. Procession Soprano solo & Sopranos
2. Wolcum Yole! SATB
3. There is no Rose SATB
4a. That yongë child Sopranos
4b. Balulalow Soprano solo & SATB
5. As dew in Aprille SATB
6. This little Babe SATB
7. Interlude Harp
8. In Freezing Winter Night SATB w/ S & T solos
9. Spring Carol Soprano duet
10. Deo Gracias SATB
11. Recession Soprano solo & Sopranos
Four Motets for the Christmas Season Francis Poulenc
O magnum mysterium SATB
Quem vidistis pastores dicite SATB
Videntes stellam SATB
Hodie Christus natus est SATB
A variety of Holiday favorites:
(Not in concert order and subject to change.)
Do You Hear What I Hear SATB
by Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne, arr. by Harry Simeone
Grandma’s Killer Fruitcake SATB
by Elmo Shropshire & Rita Abrams, arr. by Roger Emerson
Hallelujah by G.F. Handel SATB
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas SSA
by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane arr. by Mark Hayes
Holiday Favorites Christmas Medley arr. by Roger Emerson SATB
Hot Chocolate! by Andy Beck & Brian Fisher SATB in 2-parts
Kindle the Hanukkah Lights SAB
by Linda Marcus & Sherri Porterfield
Light A Candle by Marta Keen, arr. by Jay Althouse SATB
Silver Bells SATB
by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, arr. by Ed Lojeski
Sleigh Ride SATB
by Leroy Anderson & Mitchell Parish, arr. by Tom Anderson
The Christmas Song SSAA
by Mel Torme & Robert Wells, arr. by Kirby Shaw
Twas The Night Before Christmas SATB
by Ken Darby & Tom Scott, arr. by Harry Simeone
Run to the Manger SATB
by E. Caswall & John W. Work, arr. by Victor C. Johnson
The First Noel / Pachelbel Canon arr. by Michael Clawson SATB
New => Note Oct 14: Ron removed "Silver Bells" and "Twas The Night Before Christmas" from the program. Return your scores at rehearsals. Practice tracks for these two pieces have been removed from these web pages.
Scores for the pieces in the "Holiday" section are being handed out at rehearsals as they come in from the printer. Many of these selections have practice tracks that Gail recorded over the past several seasons.
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 Aides
When starting to learn the pieces of the music program, focus on the pitches and rhythms. Sing along with these aides 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.
New ==> 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
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Click here
Holiday Favorites Christmas Medley TBD
Hot Chocolate! Click here
Kindle the Hanukkah Lights TBD
Light A Candle Click here
Silver Bells TBD
Sleigh Ride TBD
The Christmas Song TBD
Twas The Night Before Christmas Click here
Run to the Manger TBD
The First Noel / Pachelbel Canon TBD
(*) Music starts at about 50 seconds from the beginning of the video.
TBD means that we are looking for suitable videos for this piece.
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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 and downloaded from the box below.
This score will not be handed out to members. You are to download, print it out (17 pages - double sided) and bring to rehearsals. If you are unable to do this, please let your humble webmeister know: cholmes@warwickvalleychorale.org
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