Love came down
Our annual tradition of commissioning a carol from a brilliant young composer started in 2014. This year, we’ve invited Alexander L’estrange to write a setting of his own choosing. Here he introduces his stunning new work
Alexander L’estrange introduces his stunning new carol, written exclusively for you all to perform
Iwas delighted to be asked to compose this year’s carol for the readers of BBC Music Magazine. The poem ‘Love came down at Christmas’ is classic and Christmassy, and although many composers (including
John Rutter) have set these words by Rossetti, no one melody has come to dominate. The words are direct, sincere and expressive; my aim was to provide music that would be a suitable stylistic match. The form is very straightforward: verses 1 and 3 are essentially the same, with a chance for the basses to come to the fore in verse 2 while the sopranos provide an angelic descant. A simple coda begins in unison and brings things to a serene close.
As a jazz musician with a love of harmony (I was briefly banned from singing at New College Choir in Oxford for humming added ninths in the last chords of pieces!), the task of creating a harmonically interesting and characterful soundworld within the confines of a four-part, SATB texture is a challenge I always find rewarding. I hope you’ll enjoy both the scrunches and the simplicity.
I trust the demo recording, made by me and my wife Joanna Forbes L’estrange and available to listen to at www.classical-music.com, will be helpful. Part-learning MP3S are also available there; you can hear each part singled out with a very quiet backing to help you learn your notes, if that appeals to you.
To learn more about L’estrange’s music, visit the Faber website at www.fabermusic.com. ‘On Eagles’ Wings’, Tenebrae’s recording of L’estrange’s music including ‘Epiphany Carol’ and ‘Hodie!’, is out now.