For you choristers and choir directors out there, the Shaw-Parker Christmas Carol arrangements are something you might want to plunk thru between now and September. These are artful, challenging arrangements with some solo parts, but are very accessible to a choir that is willing to put the time in to learn then or has ringers to help carry the load.
A book of them is available at this link.
Some of my favorites:
Carol of the Birds
Good King Wenceslas
In the Bleak Midwinter (on the Holst tune)
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Carol of the Birds? Is that really the title, or is it Carol of the Bells?
Yes, it’s Carol of the Birds. It’s a wonderful Basque carol. Great soprano solo. Shaw has a recording you can purchase on Amazon.
The Wilhousky Carol of the Bells arrangement is the classic, I’m not aware of a Shaw-Parker arrangement of that.
I didn’t parse this post right the first time: “Ringers? How much would it help to have bellringers playing the tune along with the choir? I don’t get it.”
:-)