I Saw Three Ships

This spirited setting of the traditional English carol for choir and four-hand piano opens with a rousing choral fanfare. Verses follow with the melody sung first by upper voices and then lower voices. Next, a homophonic verse is followed by a marvelously creative section in which the primary carol partners with Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. Building in intensity towards the close, we hear successively the "bells" and the "angels" before "all rejoice amain." Some choral divisi enriches the score, including rich chords in the finale.