Sample played by London Brass

10021 – Shepherds Pipe Carol

John Rutter

Arranged by Roger Harvey

Difficulty: Medium

Price: £25

Programme notes:

John Rutter is without doubt the most prolific and most successful composer of Christmas carols of this generation. So much so that it is rare to hear a concert of Christmas music that does not include at least one of his songs. Shephard’s Pipe carol of 1966 is one of the earlier examples and is typical in its catchy tunefulness with little twists of rhythm and harmony that make his carols not only accessible but also memorable.

Performance notes:

There are 4 options for performance of this arrangement:

• tentet as written with two 5tets seated antiphonally
• tentet with unison voices sing the melody and words as published by OUP
• 5tet (tpt 1, tpt 2, hn, trb 1, tuba) and mixed voices, SATB as OUP version
• tentet with mixed voices (tpt3/4, trb 2/3/4 doubling voices as required.

The 1st trumpet should play from D onwards on a piccolo trumpet. If a piccolo is not available the part may be transposed down the octave though this is not desirable.

He style should be light and dance-like throughout, even in sustained, legato passages; avoid becoming heavy, keep it airy and mobile.