Composer

:

Arthur Sullivan

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Part Song

Publication Date

:

1868

Average_duration

:

2:48

"I Sing the Birth" is a Christmas carol composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1874. It was first performed on December 23, 1874, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The carol is written for four-part choir and orchestra, and it is divided into three movements. The first movement, "I Sing the Birth," is a joyful and celebratory piece that sets the tone for the entire carol. The choir sings the opening lines, "I sing the birth was born tonight, / The author both of life and light," while the orchestra provides a lively accompaniment. The movement features a number of dynamic changes, with the choir and orchestra alternating between loud and soft passages. The second movement, "The Shepherds' Story," is a more subdued piece that tells the story of the shepherds who were visited by the angels on the night of Jesus' birth. The choir sings the lines, "The shepherds heard the angels sing, / New joy o'er all the earth did ring," while the orchestra provides a gentle, pastoral accompaniment. The movement features a number of beautiful harmonies and a sense of wonder and awe. The final movement, "The Wise Men's Journey," is a more dramatic piece that tells the story of the wise men who followed the star to Bethlehem. The choir sings the lines, "The wise men saw the star in the east, / And followed it to find the feast," while the orchestra provides a grand, majestic accompaniment. The movement features a number of powerful crescendos and a sense of triumph and glory. Overall, "I Sing the Birth" is a beautiful and uplifting Christmas carol that captures the joy and wonder of the holiday season. Sullivan's use of dynamic changes, beautiful harmonies, and dramatic flourishes make it a memorable and timeless piece of music.

More....