Wassail - (SATB Version) 4-Part - Digital Sheet Music

In Old English, the term 'wassail' has a variety of meanings regarding secular festivities and salutations at New Year. Similarly, the traditional wassail folk-song or carol exists in many versions, from various counties right across England, with differing lyrics and (numbers of) verses, dating back as far as at least the 12th century. My own setting uses an original folk-style melody, here presented in a version for SATB choir and piano/organ. The words are adapted from a version of the Yorkshire Wassail (courtesy of the Yorkshire Wassail Group) from Todmorden (where the Town Hall sits on the traditional Lancashire/Yorkshire border). Following an introduction, and the use of a recurring 'turnaround' between verses, the work presents the melody in a set of 5-verse variations: initially on (optional) solo voice, then in groups of unison singing, then in four-part harmony, then in a two-part canon by one bar between upper and lower voices, and finally in a closer, circular canon between mixed voices by half a bar. The work is highly accessible for the listener, and is very singable for most standards of mixed choir and accompanist. The piece is also available in versions for solo/unison voices, SA choir, and for unaccompanied SATB choir, also from Sheet Music Plus. The full YouTube video provided is of the first performance, given on 4/12/25 by Prescot Parish Church Choir, at the Mayor of Prescot's Charity Christmas Concert in Prescot Parish Church on Merseyside, England, directed by Abigail Birch-Price and with the composer on piano. The separate full audio track provided is a recording made on 18/12/25 by the St. Edward's College Chamber Choir, Liverpool, with the composer at the piano, in St. Mary's Church, West Derby, Liverpool.Duration: 3 minutes 30 seconds.Registered with PRS (Performing Rights Society, UK).Composer's website: www.roberthowardmusic.co.uk