James MacMillan: New-made for a king

A setting of a nativity poem from "Her Maker’s Maker" by Michael Symmons Roberts, "New-made for a king" was commissioned by Andreas Klatt for Farnham Youth Choir. Scored mainly in four parts, the choral texture is homophonic, the harmony rich yet approachable by young performers, with a decorative piano accompaniment. In the mould of a lullaby, the piece’s over-riding calm is troubled towards the close by indistinct pp lontano interjections from the piano, in response to the poem’s portentous closing words.