A Celtic Silent Night
By Franz Xaver Gruber

Our mixed ensemble of 5 did this piece with violin on a Sunday morning. It was a beautiful part of our service.

I am always dubious when arrangements of very familiar pieces are produced because sometimes they rob the original of its particular character. Silent Night is so delightfully gentle that the prospect of a arrangement wasn't encouraging. Would it be complicated ? Would it destroy the original gentle charm? My fears...

were entirely unfounded. The piece is gentle, emotive in the best sense and with its lilting accompaniment conveys superbly all the charm of the original, but in doing so, gives the various SATB parts their individual opportunity to have the melody for a bit. I would highly recommend this lovely piece. My choir loves it.

This is an interesting arrangement of a too-familiar carol. The singers in our choir like it very much especially the way the tune is shared between the four parts. They had no trouble sight-reading it although there were some unexpected harmonic traps. Interesting accompaniment also.

Singing the familiar tune and the words we all know and love to different accompaniment tune. Timing is a little different but beautiful.

We sing Silent Night every Christmas Eve as a congregation and as the pianist I'm always trying to find new arrangements. This song was perfect. The congregation was able to sing the first 3 versus with the choir singing all the different harmonies. The last verse had to be...

choir only as it has flowing, responsive parts. It has a beautiful violin part and as we don't have a violinist in our church, we had the organist play that part on the organ......worked perfectly. Not just a pick up and know it song.....it does take some practice!