Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/823017
2 LITTLE LION, LITTLE LAMB – SATB FOREWORD Merry Christmas! I've never been one to really think of that first Christmas night as being peace- ful, silent, calm... all the things we like to think about Christmas! When I think of the first Christmas, I think of Christ coming to a world filled with chaos and adversity – much like today. I think of His people waiting for a Deliverer – much like today. I think of God coming down to step into the brokenness and heartache, just like today. A beautiful recurring thought I had while writing Little Lion, Little Lamb was that the story of Christmas is still a living story. When our Lion of Judah comes into our lives, everything changes: we are healed, we become clean, we are changed forever! As I was writing this cantata, I prayed over each note and word. I prayed for the choirs who would sing and the congregations who would hear. May God greatly use your life and your performance to draw people to Him. Blessings, Heather PERFORMANCE NOTES Because the songs in this cantata are diverse in style, strive to approach each piece with stylistic integrity. Below are some style reminders: Traditional: Tall vowels, often longer phrasing, articulated rhythms and consonants. Contemporary/Pop: Wider vowels, brighter sound, no exploding consonants, syncopated rhythms tend to be less forced – more natural. Gospel: Relax! Scoop liberally! Don't over-articulate the consonants. Wider vowels. OVERTURE/SING CHRISTMAS! The overture portion lasts about 1 minute. This is a great time for the choir to enter, if they can do so in less than a minute. The whole song should feel energized, even on the quieter measures. The voices need to carry the energy – don't rely on the accompaniment to create the excitement! AND SO WE WAIT The solo is intended to be sung in singer/songwriter style. A gentle, mellow voice would be best suited for this, as opposed to a big operatic voice. The so- loist should be a strong communicator. Syncopations should be conversational, and not punched. Follow contemporary stylings. For Preview Only