When the Angels Sang

This piece depicts that part of the first Christmas which involved the shepherds' encounter with the angels. The tone poem begins with the air of a quiet night while shepherds softly entertain themselves. They then sense a disturbance which increases with great intensity until an angel appears. The angel, represented by a solo violin, tells them first to not be afraid and then that she has come to deliver good news, for in the town of David, their Savior, Christ the Lord, is born. Upon hearing that, the shepherds begin to celebrate until three more angels appear. They reiterate that they bring the shepherds "good news of great joy" to which they respond with even more vigorous celebrating as a multitude of angels come forth. Together, for a brief time, heaven and earth sings to the glory of this birth. And then, in a blink of an eye, all angels, but one, disappear. This lone one then states once more: "A Savior has been born unto you!". With that, she too fades away leaving the quietude of night to return. And while it seems like all has return to normal, a lone voice reflects on the announcement, softly saying, "He is Christ.is Christ the Lord". During this work, small portions of five sacred Christmas hymns (all Public Domain) that refer to the angels are used and at the work's climax, three of them are heard simultaneously. The carols are "Come, thou long expected Jesus", "In Bethlehem neath starlit skies", "Angels from the realms of Glory", "It came upon a midnight clear" and "Hark the herald angel sings".