Composition Details
- Composed by: Traditional French
- Arranged by: Bernat Vivancos
- Published by: self-published
- Cat No: 04a
- Canadian Work: No
- Duration: 4:04
Recorded by Elektra
Performed in Concert
In Collections
Program Notes:
Catalan composer Bernat Vivancos’ arrangement of the famous French carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” is at times playful, exuberant, and thoughtful.
Conductor Notes:
This is a challenging SSA (plus SSA trio) a cappella arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High” “for children’s choir or women’s choir.” Vivancos has included all six verses, and I opted not to take two suggested repeats because I felt it was long enough with each verse sung just once. The timing of 4:04 is the shortened version. He plays with articulation, harmonic language, and even mode (verse 3 is in minor) to express the nature of the text. He suggests that the trio (of angels, who sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo”) be placed away from the choir. A very joyful, worthwhile arrangement that will take time to learn and shape.
Bernat Vivancos publishes his music himself and does not charge for permission to make copies. He simply asks that you inform him of performances and not sell his music.
Composer / Arranger Notes:
About Elektra’s recording on the Silent Night CD, Bernat had this comment: “About tempo: you sing a little too fast, quarter=120, please not more, it’s enough, it will be a little less stressed, and maybe is better to sing less staccato, more legato (staccato-legato, not only staccato).” I think our tempo was more like 134.
Translation:
1) Angels in our midst have intoned the anthem of heavens,
And this melodious song echoes from our mountains: “Glory to God in the highest!”
2) Shepherds, for whom are these songs, what is this celebration for?
Which conqueror, what conquest, deserves these triumphant cries: “Glory to God in the highest!”
3) In the profound humility in which you appear before our eyes,
To praise you, Lord of the world, we’ll sing again this joyous song: “Glory to God in the highest!”
4) Let us all look for the blessed village that saw him born beneath its roofs,
Offer him our tender homage from our hearts and from our voices: “Glory to God in the highest!”
5) Shepherds, far from your retreats, join together in their concerts.
And let your tender bagpipes resound in the air: ” Glory to God in the highest!”
6) They announced the birth of Israel’s liberator
And full of gratitude, this solemn day they sing: “Glory to God in the highest!”