William Himes

A Christmas Portrait

A Christmas Portrait is a medley centered around three nativity scene carols, and is cleverly intertwined with bits of other familiar carols. The first carol, 'O Come, Little Children,' is a favorite by the German composer J.A.P. Schulz (1747-1800), who is best remembered for setting the verses of poems to simple, folk-like music. A contemplative mood is set by the next carol, 'The Sleep of the Child Jesus,' a less familiar old French noel. Finally, the strains of the 16th century Polish Carol, 'He is Sleeping in a Manager' led to the Grandioso selection of the piece. This arrangement ends softly and peacefully appropriate to the setting of the nativity scene. Correlates With Best In Class Bk. 1 Page 14 / SOE Bk. 2 Page 21