Parry relishes in warm harmonies, with occasional chromatic inflections, in his calm but captivating setting of the anonymous fifteenth-century text 'There is no rose'.

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There is no rose - Ben Parry

'The Unexpected Early Hour' brims with energy as the vibrant melody passes between voices and the rocking crotchet-quaver movement drives the piece towards its climactic ending.

The Unexpected Early Hour (from 'A Winter Breviary') - Reena Esmail

'On this Silent Night' perfectly conveys the magic and excitement of winter, conjuring images of warmth by the fireside while the weather outside closes in and giving a subtle nod to Franz Gruber's 'Silent night'.

On this Silent Night - Sarah Quartel

The charming and vibrant melody of this attractive carol for choir and organ glides above harmonies that are almost entirely diatonic, but whose originality and frequent passing dissonances mean that predictability is never a danger.

In dulci jubilo - Cecilia McDowall

A homely text by Joyce Kilmer is the starting point for this gorgeously expressive ballad for choir and piano.

There shall be Christmas Day - Reginal Wright

This tunefully lilting carol for choir and organ will prove popular with audiences and choirs alike, its six verses deftly marrying variety with diversity to create an attractive shape.

The first Nowell - Bob Chilcott

Two stanzas of emotive verse by Christina Rossetti are set to music of touching directness in this a cappella offering, whose graceful melodies are often adorned by caressing rhythmic patterns.

Christmas Eve - Kim Porter

This carol for a cappella choir juxtaposes Latin text with a jubilee spiritual celebrating the Magi who saw the star to lead them to the newborn child. The natural rhythmic energy is amplified by syncopations added as the song progresses.

The Saviour's Birth - Marques L. A. Garrett

French's quasi-lullaby setting of Thomas Hardy's 'The Oxen' opens by alternating between a tutti refrain and solo verses, with an atmospheric syllabic accompaniment, before building to a tutti final verse and refrain.

The Oxen - Jessica French

Lucy Walker's thoughtful setting of 'There is no rose' flows between swells of emotion and warm chromatic inflections in the Latin refrains. This piece captures the natural emphases of the text, seamlessly moving between irregular and simple metres.

There is no rose - Lucy Walker

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