Walker, Lucy - The Angels' Song (SATB (with divisi) a cappella)
for mixed voices (SATB with divisi) a cappella
Text: English (Sara Teasdale)
Duration: c2 minutes
Difficulty: 3/5
Use: Christmas, Angels
This carol sets the final three verses of Sara Teasdale’s light-hearted retelling of the nativity story, in which a host of angels arrive at the stable, and herald the birth with their joyful song. This piece is characterised by a buoyant ‘Alleluia’ motif, lifted staccato notes, and by the lively rhythm which is constantly alternating between 7/8 and compound time. Each verse ends with a sequential refrain beginning in the upper voices in a nod to the structure of traditional Christmas carols. The ending of the carol, using silence and repetition, is intended to bring the last line of poetry to life in a humorous way!
Text
The angels came from heaven high,
And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
The host of heaven sings.
Alleluia!
The kings they knocked upon the door,
The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
To hear the song begin.
Alleluia!
The angels sang through all the night
Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
Before the song was done.
Sing alleluia!
Sara Teasdale (without alleluias) (1884–1933)