Like a dream on a snowy Christmas eve, this piece tells a tender story of the beloved Austrian carol, with voices weaving and building warmth reminiscent of a fireside as well as a glorious sunrise. Jared Fessler of Broadway World wrote: “Its spare textures and gentle harmonic shifts felt contemplative rather than dramatic, offering a rare moment of stillness amid the seasonal bustle.”

Composer’s Notes

I have always been a big fan of compound meters, and the first thing I thought of when I started to arrange the piece was to create a sensation of quiet, falling snow by letting the ensemble sing contrapuntally in 12/8. This may take some patience in rehearsals until it flows seamlessly, but the end result should be quite satisfying for both singers and audience. It leads to a tender lullaby, which then goes to the last section where I imagine a child to be dreaming of the joy of Christmas, with a beautiful sunrise whose rays shimmer against the snow. While the story develops with several key changes, all is still sung rather gently so as not to disturb the child’s sleep. The ending brings back the serenity of the opening 12/8 passage.

-Yumuko Matsuoka

Text

Still, still, still,
one can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed, the world is sleeping,
holy star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
one can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
’tis the eve of our savior’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
close your eyes, let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
’tis the eve of our savior’s birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
of the joyous day to come
while guardian angels without number
watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
of the joyous day to come.

-Traditional Austrian Carol

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