Explore new unaccompanied carols for mixed voices with two new settings of Adam lay ybounden, two contrasting pieces from Cecilia McDowall, and a melodic take on William Blake’s popular poem The Lamb.

A characterful setting of a classic Medieval Christmas text. Festive and dance-like, the music embodies the joy of the Christmas season and celebrates human redemption through Christ. The piece is full of spirit, employing the dorian mode and lively rhythms dancing over sung drones.

April 2025

SATB (with divisions)

2 mins

Easy

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Based on the well-known poem by William Blake, this Christmas piece transports listeners with sounds of heavenly angels beckoning the little Lamb. Layered melodic fragments that cascade through the parts before the voices come together for a climactic homophonic section on 'Little lamb, God bless thee'.

Winner of the Ensemble Altera composition competition in 2022, The Lamb was released by Ensemble Altera on their album 'The Lamb's Journey'.

April 2025

SSAATTBB

3.5 mins

Moderately difficult

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This jubilant carol sets an evocative fourteenth-century text celebrating the birth of Christ. With a lilting, medieval feel and changing metres, Of A Rose has been recorded by The Sixteen on their album Carol of the Bells.

April 2025

SATB

3 mins

Easy - Moderately difficult

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This solemn yet dramatic work sets a traditional Latin prayer lauding the Virgin Mary, with intense melodic lines that are at once steadfast and arresting, reflecting the mystery of the immaculate conception. McDowall combines modal writing with harmonic complexity, creating moments of drama amid allusions to the plainsong chant and an unsettled, lydian close.

While Tota pulchra es is particularly appropriate for Advent and Christmas, this work is also suited to concert performance.

April 2025

SSATB

4 mins

Moderately difficult

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A lively setting of the well-known macaronic Christmas text, this piece uses frequently changing time signatures, syncopation, and independent movement in each part, resulting in a lightness of texture and captivating interplay between the voices.

April 2025

SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied or with optional percussion

2 mins

Easy – Moderately difficult

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