Christmas Is ...

"Christmas Is...." takes everything you're hoping for in a new Christmas piece and wraps it up beautifully! Sentimental but not sappy, simple but not simplistic and easily singable. Two lyrical melodic sections (into AABAB coda) are shared between the parts supported by a stunning piano accompaniment featuring bell-like echoes and rich harmonies. Although essentially in 2-parts, additional parts are occasionally added for a richer texture. The message of "Christmas Is..." is timeless - hope, joy, love and peace. On a personal note, the images evoked by the text are memories of my own childhood in wintry Canada where Christmas was made magical not by things (because no one had much) but by kind friends, seasonal sights and sounds, and simply being and sharing together. Key: Bflat + Time: 3/4 Tempo: medium speed with a lovely lilting feel