These pieces were written on December 23/24, 1999 as my attempt to write some music for Christmas. The three pieces are written in Latin and are titled:

Angele Dei - Angel of God Adeste Fideles - O Come, All Ye Faithful (Not the usual one) Tollite Hostias - Lift Up the Sacrifices

You can hear each piece by clicking the above links or on the headers of each table below.
A bit more, in my mind, should be said about these pieces before presenting the lyrics and their translations. First of all, the three pieces are scored for Tenor voice and String Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, 'Cello, Bass). The interesting thing is that, upon first hearing, my father commented "There are so many instruments.". Little did he realize that there were only six. He mistook the strings which are pizzicato (plucked) at times and arco (bowed) at others as separate instruments in each case. I am a simple composer and believe in expressing the deepest emotions by the most charismatic music possible with as few instruments as possible.

About the pieces in particular:
I: Angele Dei  After I had finished this piece, I believed it to be the most uncharismatic and least "me" of any piece that I had ever written. All in the beginning, only the basses and 'cellos are bowed, the violins and viola are plucked in an asymmetric 3+3+2 grouping of eighth notes that, in my mind is reminiscent of Dave Brubeck and his "Blue Rondo A La Turk" (Although that's 2+2+2+3 in 9/8 time). The piece is bouncy and vivacious until it gets too rowdy and loud. The "hodie illumina..." section incorporates a notable idiomatic shift (do you know what that means yet, Mr. Cerisano?) and with a slowing of the tempo, it flows into a more peaceful atmosphere. This section finds beauty in a type of imitative serenity that is characteristic of so little of the music I have ever written for instruments or for voice. (The "Ave Verum" Section in my Requiem is the only one that comes to mind immediately.) After this brief peaceful interlude, it returns to the bouncy, fast, "Angele Dei..." theme from the beginning.

II: Adeste Fideles The lyrics for this section are from some of the lesser known Latin verses of John Francis Wade's favourite Christmas carol of the same name. This piece in it's bouncy waltz-style uses only bowed first violin and viola. The other three string parts (second violin, 'cello and bass) are plucked. This is mostly to guarantee the short notes that are needed to convey the urgency and bounce of the piece. The piece is laid out with an introduction that reappears in the second verse, the first staccato verse with its light chorus, followed by the chorus repeated by the strings. Then comes the second verse whose theme is the pizzicato string introduction (I told you it would be back). The second chorus is the same as the first and, at the height of emotion, the piece ends with a resonant pizzicato chord in the three string parts. I've always though that this was a cheap way to end a good piece of music but now that I have begun exploring it's capabilities, I find it to be a simple way to end even the most complex of orchestrations.

III: Tollite Hostias The lyrics for this piece are from Camille Saint-Saëns' "Christmas Oratorio". My translation of the lyrics might be slightly incomprehensible because the grammar isn't perfect. The only explanation that I can offer is: "I don't speak Latin". If you do and can provide me with a better translation of the text that I have given below, please don't hesitate to email me . This piece starts out with a more somber mood and all bowed strings. The deep, rich harmonies in the minor key are something that I really think is characteristic of much of my writing. The way the tenor enters, that is to say, subtly and unnoticed, creates the dense atmosphere that I like in my music. There is another idiomatic shift that changes to a fast bouncy two verses of orchestral turmoil. The first violin and bass (two outermost parts) drop their bows at this point and begin to pluck the strings. Another piece ends with the simple plucking of string chords (two-part in this case, so not really a chord) but what can I say? I like the sound of it!

The lyrics and translations are as follows:

(I translated all lyrics in Adeste Fideles and Tollite Hostias loosely from Latin with the help of my trusty Latin-English pocket dictionary.
If anyone cares to correct my Latin and offer up a better translation, please E-mail me.)