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Yesu Ulale - Swahili Christmas Lullaby for Choir

  • Josh Birkholz
  • Dec 9, 2018
  • 1 min read

I'm reaching back to Christmas of 1996. I wrote this mass choir piece as a student. The text and melody are from the Swahili hymn book, Tumshangilie Mungu. I imagined a lullaby growing as shepherds arrived at the stable. It starts almost chant-like with a call and response. then it grows in texture with a structured, round-like counterpoint which may seem almost aleatory to the listener.

Perhaps this is more "college choir" in style than what most church choirs would use. The two-choir split and harmonies, while not overly complex, might not work with a smaller ensemble (16 minimum, better with 32+)

SATB with double choir split and soloist

I hope you enjoy it!

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