Silent Night & Gaudete

Silent night
This arrangement of the traditional carol by Franz Gruber and Joseph Muhr (translated into English by John Freeman Young) was written by Anna Lapwood and the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir for their end of term party for the families of the choristers. The aim was to produce an arrangement manageable for the youngest choristers whilst stretching the older ones with some slightly jazzy harmonies. It was written in one 75-minute rehearsal, and performed to the parents straight after. The choir has written a new piece at the end of every term since.

Gaudete
This arrangement of the 16th-century carol was written during a full weekend of group composition with Anna Lapwood and the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir, a process with which they had experimented previously. The choir decided to create rhythmic impetus and drive, which is delivered from the outset in the introductory material. This figure is repeated under the refrain for the first three verses, while the verses themselves are presented in simple unison. The final verse is harmonised and crescendos towards the uplifting key change for the final refrain, giving a sense of climax, which may be highlighted further with an optional tambourine.