A Christmas Mash-up

I've taken the Christmas Carol's "Angels we have heard on high" and "Gdy się Chrystus rodzi" (a Polish Christmas Carol which translates as "When Christ is being born").  I wrote two variations on this Polish Carol last year and you can find them here to become more familiar (if you want):

There was some confusion in that thread about which Carol I was actually working on (LoL) owing to the fact that both of these Carol's prominently feature the Latin lyrics "Gloria in excelsis Deo".  But that was basically the inspiration for putting them together in this mash-up.  I painstakingly entered multiple stanzas of the Polish, English and Latin lyrics into the pdf score with all the correct accent marks and whatnot so let me know if it's clear!  Thanks for listening and comments, suggestions, critiques or just observations are always welcome!  Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy listening!  ☃️

Pretty awesome how you were able to seamlessly merge the themes together. Fun dissonance sprinkled in every so often, which could very well be hints of a Bad Santa making his way through town. Or perhaps the Grinch is waiting nearby to cause mayhem. But overall the themes are pleasant and you changed them up to incorporate your own voice. The ending is very pleasant and have fun harmonies. But I do hear a tiny bit of sharp dissonance hidden in the passage. It sounds like something didn't quite go as planned, but it was too subtle for Santa to notice.

2 minutes ago, chopin said:

Fun dissonance sprinkled in every so often

This is present because I tried to include the harmonic characteristics of both Carol's at once which didn't always result in nice consonances.  Thank you for your review!

That sounds very pleasant. I always think these types of buildings are wonderful.

Hi Peter,

Really enjoy this one and it sounds especially calm when it’s much needed. Like Mike noted the two Melodies sound so well together just like any good counterpoint. Adding those flats near the end of each phrase really helps push the climax. Thx for sharing.

Henry

Nice piece! Really appreciate your effort! It seems like the 3rd TS sometimes, but very Haydn, and perhaps some Mozart and Beethoven.

2 hours ago, TristanTheTristan said:

Nice piece! Really appreciate your effort! It seems like the 3rd TS sometimes, but very Haydn, and perhaps some Mozart and Beethoven.

Thanks!  I can't figure out what you mean by "3rd TS"?  Google says it might have something to do with 3/4 time signature which I don't think is what you meant.  Or that it could have something to do with the Three French Hens in "The 12 Days of Christmas" song?  Thanks for your review!

6 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Thanks!  I can't figure out what you mean by "3rd TS"?  Google says it might have something to do with 3/4 time signature which I don't think is what you meant.  Or that it could have something to do with the Three French Hens in "The 12 Days of Christmas" song?  Thanks for your review!

 

3rd Transcedental Etude. (Paysage (Landscape))

6 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Thanks!  I can't figure out what you mean by "3rd TS"?  Google says it might have something to do with 3/4 time signature which I don't think is what you meant.  Or that it could have something to do with the Three French Hens in "The 12 Days of Christmas" song?  Thanks for your review!

 

3 minutes ago, TristanTheTristan said:

3rd Transcedental Etude. (Paysage (Landscape))

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Étude_No._3_(Liszt)

The texture gets so thick but I love how it sounds consonant throughout. For some reason I'm reminded of Home Alone when I hear this haha, I love that movie. 

Wonderful music Peter, it definitely is stocking stuffed full of holiday spirit. Merry Christmas!

@PeterthePapercomPoser Below you will find my review for your chorale

Taste:  This piece seemingly uses two traditional Christmas chorales.  We can hear how one lead into the other with no hiccups.  The general audience might not notice the subtle transition, but those who perform it and the carols will.  This will be great piece for concert. 

Instrumentation:  The string accompaniment provides harmonic support for the vocal. We do not hear strings often. It is often an organ. But organs cliche. 

To answer if this playable? Playable is not correct word. Singable is. Yes a choir can and should. The score can easy to read and follow.  No issues here.

Others have mentioned: it reminds them of ET 3 or Mozart or Haydn.  Those great choices, but homophonic texture with harmonic language reminds of Tchaikovsky; and maybe beethoven?