Puer Nobis Nascitur

SATB a cappella

Text: Anon

Duration 3 mins

A new, original, setting of the Latin text better known as 'Unto us a Boy was Born'.

In overall structure this setting is similar to the standard ‘congregational’ carol - the same music repeats, perhaps with some variations in dynamics, for all verses. However, in this case the modes change from verse to verse so that the resultant harmonic flavour better suits the meaning of the words. For example, verse three is in the aeolian mode rather than the ionian and lydian modes of verses one and two. (The melody is also in the tenors.) The final verse, however, after the calmer dorian fourth verse is a rousing variation in the same mode as the opening.

Although this carol was composed late in 2019, a precursor of the last verse was originally commissioned by the BBC as the theme music to one of their annual BBC Choir of the Year productions. This was sometime in the 90s - I can’t remember exactly when!

Computer-generated mock-up ~ for demo purposes only: