Category: Henry

Nightnoise | The Wexford Carol

The Irish chamber ensemble Nightnoise was active from 1984 to 1997, and was known for their fusion of Irish, Celtic, and jazz styles. Their arrangement of this traditional carol is included on the Windham Hill‘s 1993 holiday compilation album Winter Solstice IV. Key change at 2:46.

Voctave | O Come, O Come Emmanuel/The First Noel/I Wonder As I Wander

This Christmas medley is featured on Voctave‘s 2016 album The Spirit of the Season. It includes two key changes: from D minor to D major at 1:09 as the first tune transitions into the second, and then to E minor at 2:36 for the final melody.

Mary J Blige | The First Noel

Legendary R&B artist Mary J Blige released her first Christmas album, A Mary Christmas, in 2013. Produced by David Foster, the record features guest appearances by Barbra Streisand, Chris Botti and others. It peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Top 200, and was certified Gold after selling over 500,000 copies. “The First Noel” features the American gospel vocal group The Clark Sisters, and has a series of modulations, all by half step. Starting in Gb, the tune modulates to G at 0:51, Ab at 2:00, A at 3:18, and Bb at 3:38, where it remains until the end.

Straight No Chaser | The First Noel

American a cappella group Straight No Chaser formed at Indiana University in 1996. In 2006, they released a video of “12 Days of Christmas” that has since been viewed over 24 million times on YouTube. “The First Noel” is featured on the group’s first full-length Christmas album, Social Christmasing, which came out in November. Beginning in Gb, the track modulates to Ab at 1:35.

Jacob Collier | The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

Jacob Collier released his arrangement of this holiday classic in November, and it has all the hallmarks of his distinctive style: thick chordal textures, extensive reharmonization, and frequent modulations (as well as stunning video production.) The first noticeable shift in key occurs at 2:35, then again at 3:10. At 3:48, Collier begins a cycle of modulations over the last phrase of the tune, finally landing in B at the end.

Henry Lewers | Silent Night/Still, Still, Still

Breaking new ground today by featuring a performance by yours truly for the first time on the page. This mash-up of two beautiful carols, “Silent Night” and “Still, Still, Still,” was arranged by Sally DeFord (the sheet music is available here.) Starting in D Major, the music shifts to Bb with the entrance of the second tune at 1:25, and then to G at 3:05 with the return of “Silent Night.”

Owl City | Peppermint Winter

Adam Brown, the creator of the electronic music project Owl City, described this song as being about his “…own participation in snowball fights and sidewalk shoveling. Sleigh rides, present-giving and receiving and of course, the ingestion of marvelous Yuletide nutrition (or lack thereof), namely sugar cookies, hot chocolate and peppermint candy canes…”

Released in 2010 as a stand-alone single, the track has a lilting waltz-like feel, and modulates from C major to D at 2:39.

Jamie Cullum | Turn On The Lights

“Turn On The Lights” is from Jamie Cullum‘s latest album, The Pianoman at Christmas, released last month. Featuring 10 original songs and a band of 57 musicians, the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with social distancing precautions in place. “We had to set up in a way that you wouldn’t normally; between screens, two meters apart and socially distanced,” Cullum said in an interview. “But we had some of the most talented people in the world working on this record and for that reason, it still ended up sounding as wonderful and authentic as it did.

“Being in a room when all those musicians are playing at the same time, it is the pure sound of human warmth,” he added. “I think that’s why the sound feels so good at Christmas, because it’s a mass of that beautiful human sound – I absolutely love it.” Key change at 2:57.