for upper voices (SSA) & organ
Text: English, Latin (Anon, 19th century)
Duration: 2'30''
Difficulty: 3/5
Use: Christmas

This carol was commissioned by Richard Bristow for the choir of Wimbledon High, A Cappella and we first performed at Wimbledon’s Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday 17th December 2014. The snow lay on the ground hosts such a jolly traditional text, one that inspires a rich variety of time signatures and jaunty rhythms to portray humanity’s joyful participation in the angels’ celebratory dance. Essentially a strophic carol incorporating various time changes and harmonic embellishments, there is a constantly playful dialogue between the choir and organist, evoking both the excitement and solemnity of Christ’s birth. The work is concluded with an ‘Amen’ to underline the narrator’s prayer that we ‘join the heavenly host to praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.’

Text
The snow lay on the ground, the stars shone bright,
When Christ our Lord was born on Christmas night.

Venite, adoremus Dominum,
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

‘Twas Mary, Virgin pure of holy Anne,
That brought into this world the God made man.
She laid him in a stall at Bethlehem;
The ass and oxen shared the roof with them.

Venite...

Saint Joseph, too, was near to tend the child;
To guard Him, and protect His mother mild;
The angels hovered round, and sang this song:

Venite...

And thus that manger poor became a throne;
For He whom Mary bore was God the Son.
O come, then, let us join the heav’nly host,
To praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Venite...

Amen.

Gareth Treseder
Welsh tenor and composer Gareth Treseder studied at the University of Bristol and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has since been made an Honorary Associate of the RWCMD in recognition of his musical achievements. Gareth sings with many London-based ensembles including the Monteverdi Choir, with whom he performed at the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Gareth composes chiefly sacred choral works, several of which have been published by Boosey & Hawkes. Jesu, joy of our desiring, written for Sonoro’s Choral Inspirations 2 project, was workshopped across the UK during 2022 and 2023. Manchester Cathedral Choir commissioned Treseder’s Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, which was premiered as part of BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong in May 2023. Upcoming premieres include Iudicium et iustitia, written for London’s Temple Church Choir, and Magnificat anima mea Dominum & Nunc dimittis servum tuum, commissioned by Professor Seiko Tanaka’s recorder ensemble based in Japan’s Studio Fontegara.