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VocalEssence Music Press
Fill the Sky
Nancy Gifford
A Christmas carol featuring dancing dotted rhythms, syncopations, tone painting, alternating major and minor modes, and vocal imitation.
SATB a cappella
The dancing dotted rhythms, syncopations, tone painting, alternating major and minor modes, and vocal imitation in this wonderful new Christmas carol were inspired by 16th century madrigals.
Composer’s Notes
Singing angels, frightened shepherds, and the birth of the Holy Child are familiar images, often represented as a tableau in a Christmas card. The intent of this carol is to bring these images to life. My imagination tells me that angels danced across the sky as they sang the good news of Christ’s birth. How could they not?
“Fill the Sky” follows a traditional format of verse and refrain. The refrain is celebratory, using Latin and English to connect past to present. Based on Luke 2:8-15, each verse reveals part of the story. Dancing dotted rhythms, syncopations, tone painting, alternating major and minor modes, and vocal imitation were inspired by 16th century madrigals.
Imitation opens the final section, when all parts sing in overlapping succession, “Still they sing on Christmas Day.” The carol’s message is that angels return each Christmas season, dancing across the sky, and joining us as we sing.
— Nancy Gifford
Text
Dancing angels of the night
Fill the sky with wings of gold.
Never was there such a sight,
Never such a story told.
Gaudeamus! Rise and sing
Praises to the newborn King.
Gaudeamus hodie,
Christ our Savior, born this day.
Chanting angels of the night,
Shepherds fallen to the ground;
Nearly blinded by their light.
Nearly deafened by their sound.
Refrain:
Shining angel of the night
Leads the shepherds from their fear,
Telling them that all is right,
Telling them that God is near.
Refrain:
Guiding angels of the light
Share the message of good will:
“For to you is born this night
Christ the Lord, Emmanuel.”
Refrain:
Dancing angels of the night
Leave the shepherds on their way.
Still they make the heavens bright,
Still they sing on Christmas Day!
— Nancy Gifford
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