A Manger Suite
Released: Summer 2008
Featuring: The songs and arrangements from Michael W. Smith’s
IT’S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS
Created by: David Hamilton and Don Cason
Arranged and Orchestrated by: David Hamilton
Narrations by: Rhonda Courtney
Performance Time: 19 minutes total
Voicing: Moderate SATB Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Children’s Choir
FREE Demo CD
featuring the complete presentation!
Key Features
Created as a "choral work for combined choirs" featuring an Adult Choir, Vocal Ensemble, and Children's Choir
Is ideal for a variety of uses - standard Christmas programs, Christmas Eve service, Living Christmas Tree, community programs, the sacred portion of a church program, or a collegiate concert program. All of the songs are appropriate for Advent services and a Lessons and Carols service.
Features four songs by Michael W. Smith and co-writers: David Hamilton, Tony Wood, Ryan Smith and Jonas Myrin
The actual arrangements and orchestrations from Michael W. Smith's recording, created by David Hamilton, have been adapted to work for church choirs and orchestras.
Each song is sold separately as an anthem.
Can be performed by a choir of 30+ members, a 4-voice ensemble, Children's choir and 1 narrator
Tracks are recorded by the 60-piece City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Concept centers around the manger. The work is intended to be performed without sets, costumes, or dramatic action; however, it is perfectly suitable to be staged. Free Production Notes are available below.
Several Split Track mixes are provided on the one Split Track CD to help support any vocal combination. Stereo Tracks are available for recordings with your own choir.
Full complement of Companion Products are immediately available
Separate Organ part, Keyboard String Reduction and Keyboard Brass Reduction are sold separately (and included with the Orchestration)
Song Titles & Media Files
Description
A MANGER SUITE is a four-song collection / mini-musical which utilizes an adult SATB choir, an SAT(B) vocal ensemble, a children's choir, one soloist, instrumentalists, and a single narrator. Unlike many of the works published these days, this work is intended to provide an opportunity to incorporate all of these facets of one's music ministry into a single combined performance. When was the last time you had several, if not all of your choirs singing together? And what better part of a Christmas program would you want to combine all of these groups together than in a stirring presentation centered around the manger of the Christ child.
This suite opens with a song ("The Promise") that reminds us that Jesus' birth brought about the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy as the world was yearning for a savior. We follow the story of Mary and Joseph being visited by an angel and their journey to Bethlehem. The second song ("Son of God") describes the power of Heaven's perfect plan unfolding in the birth of this child, as we sing "Gloria, Alleluia - our God is with us." Then we join with the angels and all of creation in sharing our joy to the world through the final two songs ("Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah" and "Christmas Angels").
This suite can be presented in several ways. Some will want to perform this with their choirs alone, where others will prefer to stage dramatic action that might incorporate a manger, shepherds, wise men and angels, in tandem with the music. This work will adapt to whatever setting you choose.
The SATB Choir and Vocal Ensemble sing throughout the entire piece. The Children's Choir is used on two songs, and an optional Children's Choir part is available on a third song. The work requires one soloist, who sings the first verse of "Son of God." Narration is used very sparingly, and that which is used is primarily scripture.
We hope that you will find this suite useful in your music ministry this Christmas, as you and your music program lead your congregation and audiences in celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Production Notes
Performance Production Notes
Rehearsal Track Duplication Agreement
Clipart
Right-click (option-click on Macintosh) and choose "Save Target As..."
Cover Graphic | Title Words | Background | Front of Book Background
Available Products
| Product type |
UPC # | Retail Price |
| CHORAL BOOK |
891329002147 |
$ 5.95 |
| LISTENING CD |
891329002154 | $16.98 |
| ACCOMPANIMENT CD (Split/Stereo Tracks) * |
891329002161 |
$70.00 |
| REHEARSAL TRACKS ** |
891329002178 | $ 60.00 |
| CHOIR BULK CDS (pack of /10) *** |
891329002185 |
$60.00 |
| STUDIO ORCHESTRATION CD-ROM (PDF) (See Instrumentation Below) |
891329002192 | $200.00 |
| CHORAL BOOK / CD PREVIEW PACK |
891329002208 |
$12.00 |
| KEYBOARD STRING REDUCTION |
891329002215 | $29.95 |
| KEYBOARD BRASS REDUCTION | 891329002222 |
$39.95 |
| ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT |
891329002352 | $39.95 |
* Several mixes are available on this Accompaniment CD. It includes the standard Split Track mix of all choral vocals on the right channel and the orchestral track on the left channel. Additional mixes are also provided which incorporate different vocal combinations alongside the track, in particular – SATB Choir only, Children’s Choir only, SATB Choir balanced higher than the Children’s Choir, Children’s Choir balanced higher than the SATB Choir, plus Stereo mixes of all four songs in case you want to create your own church’s recording of the work.
** Rehearsal Tracks contain one CD per vocal part, including Children’s Choir, and may be duplicated for your choir members upon completion of the appropriate licenses. A copy of the Rehearsal Tracks Duplication Agreement is available on this page.
*** This package of 10 Compact Discs provides an inexpensive way for your choir members to have their own copy of the complete recording.
Instrumentation
| FLUTE (PICCOLO) 1, 2, 3 OBOE 1, 2 CLARINET 1, 2 BASSOON TRUMPET 1, 2, 3 HORN 1, 2, 3, 4 TROMBONE 1, 2, 3 TUBA |
VIOLIN 1, 2* VIOLA* CELLO STRING BASS TIMPANI PERCUSSION 1, 2, 3 HARP RHYTHM |
KEYBOARD STRING REDUCTION KEYBOARD BRASS REDUCTION ORGAN Substitute parts may be available for certain instruments listed here. |
*simplified parts included as needed
Anthems (available separately)
| Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah |
UPC # | Retail Price |
| Anthem |
891329002239 | $ 1.80 |
| CD Anthem Tracks |
891329002246 | $24.95 |
| Orchestration (printed) |
891329002253 | $69.95 |
| Organ Accompaniment (printed) |
891329002369 | $16.95 |
| The Promise |
UPC # | Retail Price |
| Anthem |
891329002260 | $ 1.80 |
| CD Anthem Tracks |
891329002277 | $24.95 |
| Orchestration (printed) |
891329002284 | $69.95 |
| Organ Accompaniment (printed) |
891329002376 | $16.95 |
| Son of God |
UPC # | Retail Price |
| Anthem |
891329002321 | $ 1.80 |
| CD Anthem Tracks |
891329002338 | $24.95 |
| Orchestration (printed) |
891329002345 | $69.95 |
| Organ Accompaniment (printed) |
891329002383 | $16.95 |
| Christmas Angels |
UPC # | Retail Price |
| Anthem |
891329002291 | $ 1.80 |
| CD Anthem Tracks |
891329002307 | $24.95 |
| Orchestration (printed) |
891329002314 | $69.95 |
| Organ Accompaniment (printed) |
891329002390 | $16.95 |
all prices listed are in U.S. dollars