Next Christmas I have decided on a Classics by Candlelight theme for my OAP'choir. They are rather limited in what they can sing and so far I have chosen some of the Joseph and Michael Haydn Christmas pieces, Sheep may safely graze, perhaps the theme from the choral symphony, the Bach setting of O Jesulein Suss, Panis angelicus and some carols of the time. Has anyone any more ideas? They don't have to be festive, just tuneful and popular,

Probably fairly obvious, but what about some of the stuff in the Carols for Choirs books?

Or there is the stuff on sites like http://www.cipoo.net/music_xmas.html but have a good look through them first as they often need some corrections.

There's a pretty SATB arrangement of in the bleak midwinter that's flying around one of the free music sites - it's quite easy, but sounds very nice and the parts are very accessible range-wise

I'll see if I can find the link...


here it is : http://www.christmas-carol-music.org/SATB/InTheBleak.html

Thanks both. I am ok as far as carols go.....I have plenty of those from which to choose. I need ideas for other pop classics that I can use or arrange for mainly unison singing or simple part singing. I really want to get away from the usual run of carols apart from three or four such as In Dulci Jubilo or Stille Nacht. I rather fancy an arrangement of theme from the Choral Symphony as our finale. Perhaps I should look at the top of the pops on the Classic FM site.

If you have a possible soloist they might enjoy Peter Cornelius's Three Kings from Persian Lands afar. If I remember rightly the choir only sings the straightforward chorale How brightly beams the morning star. I suppose it is sort of a carol, but not one for the audience to join in!

I would have classified that as quite hard! Your sopranos need quite a lot of control and support to sing those top notes in the chorale softly and clearly...not for the faint hearted in my opinion!

Our theme will be CLASSICS by candlelight rather than Carols. I am hoping to put a programme together of popular and well loved classics rather than just carols although I shall include a few. I need ideas for well known classical pieces that I can adapt for our concert. I shall include a couple of earlier pieces but nostly I would like pieces from the classical period. not necessarily vocal ones but just well known melodies to which I can add words. Any more thoughts folks?