Three Solos for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany

"Three Solos for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany," for soprano and organ, offers the church soloist three arrangements of texts and tunes that are fitting for the season. "Blest Mary Walks Amid the Thorn" (Advent) is a German folk carol that references the Virgin Mary's journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, with symbolic allusions to promises of new life in Christ. (Range D4-Eb5) "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" (Advent or Christmas) references the Old Testament prophecies that foretell the Incarnation of Christ and his lineage in the House of David. The familiar melody and harmonization by Michael Praetorius are adapted and expanded in this new setting. (Range C4-D5) "Saw You Never in the Twilight?" (Epiphany) tells of the Wise Men's (Magi) journey to the crib of the Christ Child and of the manifestation of Christ to the world, which is celebrated in the season of Epiphany. The Welsh lullaby, "Suo Gan," is used as accompaniment to the text in this arrangement. (Range F4-F5) All three pieces may be accompanied by the organist using manuals only.