for mixed choir (SATB) & piano
Text: English (traditional)
Durations: 1 - 3'00'' / 2 - 5'00''
Difficulty: 4/5

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen
2. O come, all ye faithful

Following Three jazz carols and Three more jazz carols is an additional pair of innovative jazz arrangements of carols originally created in 2012 for a service of Jazz Carols at St Martin in the Fields, London by Will Todd. Todd’s iconic rich harmonies and toe-tapping rhythm serve to bring new expression to familiar Christmas material, which is written for SATB voices and piano, with scope for optional congregational singing. They can be performed using the supplied piano part or embellished using the supplied chord symbols. Double bass may also be used in addition to piano, again following the supplied chord symbols, and parts for jazz ensemble (jazz trio and optional brass quintet) accompaniment are available for download: God rest you merry, gentlemen, O come, all ye faithful.

Composer's note
These carols were written for Andrew Earis and the Choir of St Martin in the Fields and first performed as part of ‘Jazz Carols from St Martin in the Fields’ on 22 December 2012. They can be performed using the supplied piano part or embellished using the chord symbols above. Double bass may also be used in addition to piano, again following the supplied chord symbols. Performers of these carols should feel free to include the congregation or audience in imaginitive ways.

Recommended recording: Christmas in Blue (St Martin-in-the-Fields, SMITFCD04) by St Martin’s Voices, Will Todd Ensemble and Brandenburg Brass & Festival Chorus, conducted by Andrew Earis.

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.