Benjamin Britten composed A Ceremony of Carols on a sea voyage from the United States to England in 1942. It is an extended choral composition for Christmas originally scored for three-part children’s chorus, solo voices, and harp. The text, structured in eleven movements, is mainly in Middle English, with some Latin and Early Modern English. Many of the movements are written as rounds or call-and-response pieces to help the young singers. In 1943, an SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) arrangement was published for a mixed choir.

Okay, so that’s a fair overview. But no overview can fully do justice to the range of atmospheres in what is, essentially: a processional, nine brief carols, harp interlude and recessional. The composer manages to sound joyful, tender, reverent and defiant in short order. In the context of a brief, personal response, I would highlight in particular Movement 4, “That Yongë Child” (“That Young Child”), which, using one voice part and a repeated minor second on the harp, evokes both a tender lullaby sung to a baby and a sense of precariousness. This contrasts strongly with Movement 7, “This Little Babe”, by turns martial and vertiginous, and expressing the joyous hope that one may “foil thy foes with joy.”

Whatever the relevance of these sentiments to you, and whatever your beliefs, it is hoped that the composer’s powers of expression will help you prepare to “Welcome, all, another year.”

I write this on 22 November, the feast day of St Cecilia, a Roman martyr venerated in numerous churches and considered a patroness of music and musicians. Britten rewrote a piece dedicated to Cecilia on the same sea voyage in 1942. And, funnily enough, 22 November 2023 also marks the 110th anniversary of Britten’s birth. A very happy St Cecilia’s Day to you all.

If you’d like to hear Vivamus’ performance of A Ceremony of Carols, book tickets for our Christmas concert on 14 December.

Post written by Kieran Morgan.