Bethlehem

Beautiful Irish poetry paired with a quintessentially Irish tune are taken into the choral world with wonderful effect by composer and arranger Mark Keane. The tenors and basses have a key role throughout the piece, initially establishing a sumptuous harmonic motif above which the tune is performed by a Soprano solo. Keane uses the choir to great effect, passing the tune around the parts and exploring different combinations of voices and textures, all of which provide the different sections with new harmonies and tonal colours. At the close of the piece the lyrics reference a choir of angels' and pipes and harps' at which point the energy lifts. Voices climb in beautiful arching phrases and the subtle introduction of polyphony and increased sense of rhythmic activity makes for a wholly satisfying finale.