Christmas premiere!

Fullscore Publishing was thrilled by the first performance of Nigel Edmund-Jones's arrangement of the carol As with gladness men of old on December 12th 2020 at St Peter's Hammersmith, west London. It was part of two Sages, Shepherds, Angels and Animals themed Christmas recitals given by Petros Singers, directed by Richard Bannan. The eclectic programme included illustrious composers of Christmas music: John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, Will Todd, Betty Roe, Peter Warlock, Elizabeth Poston, Berlioz and Bach! Many thanks to MD Richard Bannan, all the socially-distanced Petros Singers and Andrew Wells for his beautiful playing of the piano accompaniment.

This completes a trio of first performances at Christmas over the last three years. Fever Pitch choir performed Nigel Edmund-Jones's original setting of What child is this? in 2018 at the Prisoners' Education Trust annual Christmas carol concert in St Paul's Church Covent Garden ('The Actors' Church' in London). In 2019 Paul Dean and the choir of St Michael's Highgate (London) gave the first performance of Nigel's arrangement (and new English translation) of the traditional Irish carol, That star-lit night in Bethlehem (Don oíche úd i mBeithil), during Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

As with gladness men of old is already available from Fullscore Publishing: www.fullscoremusic.co.uk/product-page/as-with-gladness-men-of-old. What child is this? and That star-lit night in Bethlehem will be available soon, along with another new, unusual (and fun) secular arrangement for Christmas 2020. Watch this space - or download any of our free scores and add yourself to our mailing list to be notified of all forthcoming Christmas publications. Plan ahead for resumption of normal Christmas concerts and services in 2021!