Composer

:

Stephen Cleobury

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

2:44

The Cherry Tree Carol is a traditional English Christmas carol that has been arranged and composed by many musicians over the years. One of the most famous arrangements of this carol was composed by Stephen Cleobury, a British conductor and organist who served as the Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge from 1982 until his death in 2019. Cleobury's arrangement of The Cherry Tree Carol was first performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge in 1995. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which tells a different part of the story of the carol. The first movement, titled "Joseph Was An Old Man", sets the scene for the story. The choir sings in a gentle, lilting rhythm, accompanied by a simple organ melody. The lyrics describe how Joseph, who is described as an old man, is walking through an orchard when he sees a cherry tree that is in full bloom, even though it is the middle of winter. The second movement, "When Joseph Was An Old Man", tells the story of how Mary, who is pregnant with Jesus, asks Joseph to pick some cherries from the tree for her to eat. Joseph responds angrily, saying that he will not pick cherries for a child that is not his own. Mary then tells Joseph that the child she is carrying is indeed the son of God, and that the cherry tree will bow down to them as a sign of this miracle. The music in this movement is more dramatic and intense, with the choir singing in a higher register and the organ playing more complex chords. The final movement, "The Cherry Tree Carol", describes how the cherry tree does indeed bow down to Mary and Joseph as they pass by. The choir sings in a triumphant, joyful tone, accompanied by a lively organ melody. The lyrics describe how the cherry tree bends down to the ground, offering its fruit to Mary and Joseph as a sign of the miracle that has taken place. Overall, Cleobury's arrangement of The Cherry Tree Carol is a beautiful and moving piece of music that captures the wonder and magic of the Christmas story. The gentle, lilting rhythms and simple melodies of the first movement give way to more complex and dramatic music in the second movement, before culminating in a joyful and triumphant finale.

More....