Snow for Christmas by Simon Beattie

I chanced upon Bernard O’Donoghue’s short poem ‘Christmas’ in 2008, in the same anthology as Rowan Williams’s ‘Advent Calendar’ (see my setting, also on Soundcloud). I wanted to write a rich, sonorous work for men’s voices, and perhaps a Christmas piece that wasn’t particularly religious. If you would like to see a copy of the score, please contact me at simon@simonbeattie.co.uk.

Despite the forecast’s promise,
It didn’t snow that night;
But in the morning, flakes began
To glide all right.
Not enough to cover roads
Or even hide the grass;
But enough to change the light.

Recorded live at St Augustine’s, Kilburn, on 21 January 2019. Sung by Mark Dobell, Will Balkwill, George Pooley, Adam Tunnicliffe, Edward Grint, Tim Jones, Jimmy Holliday, and Stuart Young. Directed by Simon Johnson.