This edition was prepared by Douglas Walczak — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A Christmas Greeting
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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A Christmas Greeting by Edward Elgar — Lyrics
Bowered on sloping hill sides rise
In sunny glow,the purpling vine;
Beneath the greyer English skies,
In fair array, the redgold apples shine.
To those in sun,
To those in snow,
Love is but one;
Hearts beat and glow,
By oak or palm,
Friends, in storm or calm.
On and on old Tiber speeds,
Dark with the weight of ancient crime;
Far north, thro' green nd quiet meads,
Flows on the Wye in mist and silv'ring time.
To those in snow,
To those in sun,
Love is but one;
Hearts beat and glow,
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About A Christmas Greeting
Edward Elgar’s A Christmas Greeting for two-part (TB) male voices opens with a broad, sweeping melodic line, immediately establishing a sense of warmth and anticipation. The composer crafts a rich texture through the interplay of the two voice parts, creating a celebratory atmosphere. The English text contrasts images of sun-drenched vineyards and apple orchards with snowy landscapes, uniting them with the universal theme of friendship and love that transcends geographical boundaries. This secular part-song builds to a powerful affirmation of peace, referencing the Nativity story and the message of the herald angels, ultimately celebrating the enduring connection between people, whether they are by the Tiber or the Wye, under oak or palm trees.
