for upper voices (SA) & piano
Text: English (Edward Caswall, adapted)
Duration: 3'00''
Difficulty: 2/5
Use: Christmas

Composer's note
This setting of See amid the winter’s snow was written for Philip Redfern and the choir of St George’s School, Edinburgh, who first performed it in December 2014. The lovely words, which I’ve adapted slightly from the 19th-century carol by Edward Caswall, have been a part of my Christmas celebrations for as long as I can remember, and there are several wonderful tunes associated with the text. In writing this new melody I wanted to explore again the timeless nature of the poetry. This setting should be performed with a gentle forward energy but always with a legato and expressive sound.

Text
See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the Lamb of God appears,
Promised from eternal years!

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all the world again:
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn...

“As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
Told us of a Saviour’s birth.”

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn...

Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.

Adapted from Edward Caswall (1814–1878)

Will Todd
Will Todd is a UK-based performer and composer whose music spans a variety of styles and genres. Best known for his choral works, he has worked closely with choirs such as The Sixteen and Tenebrae, and his 2003 jazz mass setting Mass in Blue has been performed extensively since its premiere by choirs in the UK, Europe and the USA. Other notable works for choir range from large scale oratorios such as Saint Cuthbert (recorded by the Hallé Orchestra in 2002) to the anthem The Lord is my shepherd, available for both upper and mixed voices with piano or orchestral accompaniment. He has worked on operas and stageworks, most notably in collaboration with Opera Holland Park for whom he wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2013. A clarinet concerto, written for Emma Johnson, has been performed in the UK, USA and Finland and recorded and broadcast by the BBC Concert Orchestra. As a performer, Will leads his own Will Todd Trio from the piano and regularly directs choir workshops and performances.