This original carol is intended to evoke the spirit of Dicken's A Christmas Carol with carolers moving from house to house on a snow-white Christmas Eve. The text invokes the participation of listeners, reminds them of the essentials of the Christmas story - angels, princes, beggars streaming to the manger to see the Holy Child- and urges all to wend their way to the newborn infant in a spirit of joy and merry hope, singing 'Alleluja' all the while. The alternating 3/4 and 4/4 meters drive the music forward like an irresistible wave of pilgrims wending its way to Bethlehem, leaving care behind. For unaccompanied treble voices in three parts (SSA).
Britten's pacifist masterwork, combining war poetry by Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass, is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
