David Solomons

singer, one-man choir, guitarist and composer

While Shepherds watched - in various melodies - version in G major ATBB

SM-000196259
Composer
folklore, David W Solomons
Arranger
David W Solomons
Lyricist
Nahum Tate
Publisher
David W Solomons
Genre
Classical / Choral music
Instrumentation
Piano, Male choir
Scored for
Accompanying piano, Choir
Type of score
Piano-vocal score
Duration
4'15"
Language
English
Difficulty
Medium
Year of composition
2013

Description
It all began with the idea one morning that the "other tune" for Nahum Tate's carol "While shepherds watched" is, of course, the Yorkshire ditty "On Ilkley moor bar t'hat".
Well, as the afternoon progressed, other tunes got added, resulting in a curious potpourri for choir and piano. The choir gets to sing "On Ilkla Moor", the Este psalter tune known to all, and also

Auld Lang Syne. The second voice, in its madrigalian way, gets a sly English cadence!.
Meanwhile, the piano gets some sly references to "Sing a song of sixpence" and "Scotland the brave".

I sang it in G on this mp3, to fit my multitrack range, but versions are available on musicaneo in G (ATBB), C (SATB) (fairly high for the sopranos) and Bflat (SATB) (fairly low for the basses)
It can also be seen as a video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRXrzrSY-Vw

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

"Fear not!" said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind.
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

"To you, in David's town, this day
Is born of David's line
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:

"The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God who thus
addressed their joyful song

"All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from heaven to men,
Begin and never cease!"

Upload date
25 Dec 2013

Price

Sheet music file
10.00 USD
PDF, 361.2 Kb (9 p.)

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