Passacaglia on an Old English Carol

From Wind Repertory Project
Robert Longfield

Traditional carol arranged by Robert Longfield


General Info

Year: 2001
Duration: c. 4:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Carol
Publisher: FJH Music Co.
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $60.00; (digital) - $60.00   |   Score Only (print) - $8.25;


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Here's a rich, compelling treatment of The Coventry Carol (Lullay, Lullay) . There are seven variations on this ancient English theme, ranging from the sublime to the intense.

- Program Note from publisher


The Coventry Carol is an English Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry in England as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew: the carol itself refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed, and takes the form of a lullaby sung by mothers of the doomed children.

The music contains a well-known example of a Picardy third. The author is unknown; the oldest known text was written down by Robert Croo in 1534, and the oldest known setting of the melody dates from 1591.The carol is traditionally sung a cappella.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • St. Charles (Mo.) Municipal Band (Andre Pulliam, conductor) - 30 November 2023
  • St. Charles (Mo.) Municipal Band (Andrew Pulliam, conductor) - 1 December 2022
  • Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, Penn.) Symphonic Winds (Travis Weller conductor) - 13 November 2020
  • Covenant High School Band – 2017


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Coventry Carol, Wikipedia Accessed 25 December 2015
  • Longfield, R. (2001). Passacaglia on an Old English Carol [score]. FJH Music: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.