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for mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Text: English (Thomas Hewitt Jones)
Duration: 3'30''
Difficulty: 2/5
Use: Christmas (non-religious)

Composer's note
When I had just undertaken the commission to write the choral work Formation for Ralph Woodward and his wonderful Cambridge choral group the Fairhaven Singers, this simple and I hope touching melody immediately came to mind and so I dedicated it to them as a new seasonal carol. They subsequently premiered it in their December 2013 concert at Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge. It is for the most part not explicitly religious, but I hope gives a contrast to the lighter side of traditional Christmas choral fare.

Text
Upon the fire,
Logs are warmly glowing,
Burning the past year away,
No time for tears,
No time for introspection,
At this beautiful time of the year.

Day by day
We grow slowly older
And live despite our fears.
Who knows the way?
It’s in the eye of the beholder.
At this beautiful time of the year.

Within the church,
Choirs are softly singing
Hymns and carols anew.
Can it be true,
The promise of salvation?
At this beautiful time of the year.

Up in the sky,
Stars are brightly shining,
Spurning the passing of time:
A light divine?
It shows the way we’re travelling,
At this beautiful time of the year.

Thomas Hewitt Jones
Thomas Hewitt Jones is an award-winning composer of concert and commercial music. Winner of the BBC Young Composer competition in 2003, he has since had a number of pieces performed, broadcast and published. His ballet, vocal and instrumental music, in particular, is highly acclaimed. His carol ‘Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth’ was premiered by John Rutter and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2010, and he has had pieces published by Faber Music, ABRSM, Novello & Co, Universal Music and Oxford University Press as well as Boosey & Hawkes. Thomas has also worked in Hollywood, and composed the music for the 2012 Olympics Mascots animated films.