Rafael Sรกnchez Mombiedro
Love Came Down at Christmas
For mixed choir SSAATTBB
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Text Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign. Christina G. Rossetti (Verses, 1893)
Performance Time: c. 3:40 About the Work Love Came Down at Christmas is the second of the Two Carol-Lullabies I composed in 2018, on poems by Christina Rossetti. It's a lullaby with a gentle swing and a very endearing character, with a structure in three sections. After an introduction with descending melodies like winter snowflakes, the first section takes place, with a decisive and optimistic theme in E flat major. The second part modulates to G flat major, with the theme in the Altos. The third section, reexposed and in the main key, starts with some soft counterpoints in Altos and Tenors in the manner of a small, graceful and intimate dance. The work gains in expressiveness and emotion, concluding the section with a very warm Baritone melody. The score ends with the repetition of the beginning, this time as a coda, with the descending drawing of the voices always present.
Love Came Down at Christmas was released by NEOVOCALIS on December 27, 2020 within the CHRISTMAS EVE project, conducted by myself. Rafael Sánchez Mombiedro About me I am an active choral composer, arranger, director, and a professor of Improvisation based in Valencia, Spain. Choral music has been my passion since my childhood. I started my musical training in my hometown as a chorister at the “Escolanía de la Virgen”. The training of those years still influences my compositions (which are mostly sacred) and arrangements for choir and piano. In 2003, I founded the all-professional chamber choir, NEOVOCALIS, which specializes in contemporary choral music. The ensemble has premiered most of my compositions under my direction.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
3
Love Came Down at Christmas carol lullaby for mixed choir SSAATTBB 2018
Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1894)
Soprano
With a gentle rolling h.= 48 bb b 6 p˙ œ ˙ . ˙ œ & 4 Love came down,
Alto
b 6p b & b 4 ˙
œ
b b 6 p˙ . b V 4
Tenor
˙.
p ? b 6 w. bb 4
Piano (for rehearsal only)
6
b &bb ˙
b & b b 46 ˙˙
love
b Vbb ˙
? b b ˙˙ . b ˙.
˙.
b˙.
˙
came down,
œ b˙
came down,
love
œ
œœ
˙. w.
œ
˙
œ
˙
came down
at
œ
˙˙ ..
b˙ b˙.
˙
came down
œ n˙
love came down Christ
w. w.
b˙.
poco a poco dimin.
œœ
˙
œ
w.
b ˙˙ .. b˙.
˙˙
ww . .
œ
œ
w. w.
,P ˙ œ ,P ˙
˙ œ
mas, love came down,
w.
,P ˙ .. ˙
œ
˙ nœ
love came down,
w. œœ
˙˙ b œœ ˙˙ ..
ww ..
πU w.
w.
at
Christ
œ
w.
at
Christ
œ
A ww ..
at
Christ mas.
ww ..
-
-
-
mas.
πU w. πU b ww ..
mas.
πU ww ..
mas.
mas.
Christ
˙˙˙
-
˙.
œ
love came down,
˙ bœ ˙. b˙ œ
w.
˙˙
˙.
love
˙.
˙.
Love
˙˙ ..
˙
˙.
poco a poco dimin.
down
b & b b ˙˙
˙.
came down,
love
? bb ˙ . b ˙.
œ b˙.
poco a poco dimin.
œ
˙ œ ˙.
rit.
poco a poco dimin.
love
b &bb ˙
œœ
? b b 46 w˙ .. b
œ
˙
w.
Ah!
œ
love came down, love came down at Christ
Ah!
Bass
˙
,P ˙
love came down, love came down at Christ - mas.
˙.
Love came down,
˙.
Rafael Sánchez Mombiedro
œœœ
n ˙˙˙
œœ œ
ww ... w ww .. w.
U w . b ww ..
b ˙˙
œ
˙˙
Love
,F ˙˙
Love
˙˙ . œ
œœ
˙˙˙ . .
œ
a tempo ,F ˙ œ
,F ˙
came
˙˙ . n œ
˙
came down
˙
at
œ
˙
œ
came down
came down
Love
came down,
ww .. uw .
©Rafael Sánchez Mombiedro
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
˙ ˙ ˙˙˙
at
œ
Love
,F ˙
œ
œ œ œ œœ
˙. ˙˙ ˙˙
œ
at
œ œ œœ
4
b &bb ˙
11
œ
Christ - mas,
b &bb ˙
œ
Christ
œ
-
? b ˙ bb
œ
b & b b ˙˙
œ œ
œ œ œ
˙
˙.
˙.
love
love
˙.
˙.
love came down,
? b b ˙˙ b
b &bb ˙
16
an - gels gave
b &bb ˙ b Vbb ˙
an - gels gave
? bb ˙ b
œ ˙
an - gels gave
b & b b ˙˙ ˙ ? b ˙ bb
œ
the
gave the
œ ˙
œœ œ œ
œ the
di - vine;
˙
œ w.
ly,
di - vine;
b˙
˙˙ ˙
the
sign,
œ œ
w˙ ..
b˙ b ˙.
,
God
Wor - ship we
˙.
w.
the
sign.
˙
˙ w.
œ ˙ ˙.
-
˙w .
œ œ
˙ ˙
the
œ œ œ œ
at Christ - mas, star and
love was born
at Christ
-
˙
mas,
love was born
at Christ
-
mas,
˙ ˙
œ ˙ œ œ
˙ ˙˙
˙ ˙
œœ œ
˙.
˙.
b˙. w.
˙.
œ œ œ
œ
œœ
˙˙
˙. ˙.
œœ
œ œ
œ
œ
˙
in - car - nate, love
p w.
˙˙ .
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ ˙
God - head,
˙. ˙.
˙ ˙
œ œ
œ
love in - car - nate, love di -
God - head,
œ b˙.
œ ˙.
œ œ
˙˙
head, love
œ
œ ˙
œ
˙
œ
at Christ - mas, star and
˙
˙.
the
œ œ œ œ
œ ˙.
˙.
,F œ œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙
œ
œ ˙
œ
,F œ w.
œ
˙
,F ˙ œ ˙
Wor - ship we
,
,
˙
˙ ˙.
w. ww ..
œ ˙
œ ˙
˙.
love was born
a tempo
˙
œ
œ
œ œ
sign, the sign.
b˙.
˙
˙
œœ ˙œ œ œœ œ
sign.
sign.
w. ˙.
˙
love was born
di - vine;
ly,
w.
˙.
,
œ w. œ w.
˙ ˙
-
˙. ˙.
œ
˙œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
œ ˙.
poco rit.
œ œ œ œ
an - gels
-
˙˙
œœ
˙. ˙.
œ ˙
œ ˙
love
œœ œœ
œœ
love di - vine;
all love - ly, love
mas.
,
œ œ œ œ w.
love all love - ly,
Christ - mas,
b Vbb ˙
˙
œ œ œ
˙.
˙.
love
F ˙.
Ó.
œ
œ˙ œ œ . ˙.
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di -
di
-
di
-
œ
˙˙ ... ˙
œ œœ
5
, ˙
b w. &bb
21
vine;
b &bb ˙
vine,
b Vbb ˙
vine,
? b w. bb
œ
˙.
di - vine;
œ
˙
œ
di - vine;
vine,
b ẇ . & bb ? b b w˙ . b
œ
˙. ˙
œ
œ ˙
,
wor - ship we
,
wor - ship we
,
wor - ship we
˙ ˙
œ ˙
˙. ˙ ˙
˙ ˙.
-
œ œ
b & b b w. b &bb
π, b P b bbbb ˙
V
bbb
bw.
sign?
w.
sign?
? bb
b ˙ .w . b ˙ .
b & bb ? bb b
sign?
w. bw.
˙. ˙ .w . b ˙ .
bbbbbb
our
our
˙ ˙
˙
bbbbbb
Je
œ
our
œ
our
˙.
sus:
sa
-
˙
œ œ
˙
œ
˙˙
˙.
to
˙
to to
œœ
˙. ˙ w˙ ..
-
-
cred,
˙.
dim.
sa - cred
N˙.
˙.
dim.
˙.
sus:
b˙ b ˙.
b˙. w.
bœ ˙ ˙.
˙.
sa
-
ken,
œ ˙
œ
nœ
N˙.
w. ˙.
˙.
˙. w.
˙
œ
˙
œ
œ ˙
˙.
œ
œ˙
˙. ˙.
˙
be yours and love yours and
˙ œ ˙.
love
œ ˙˙.
˙
love shall be yours and love
˙. ˙.
˙.
your
œ
œœ
bœ
∑
œ œ œ ˙
ken, love ken, love
cred
sa - cred
∑ ˙.
˙ bœ
, p dim. ˙. ˙.
cred,
w.
-
b œœ b œ˙ œ ˙ ..
˙.
˙w..
Ah!
˙w. .
˙.
-
sa
rit.
dim.
for sa - cred sign?
, p b˙.
-
˙. b˙.
our
œ
, p b˙.
∑
œ ˙
p bb b b b ˙ . b w. ˙˙ .
-
∑
Love Love
bbbbbb
Je
b˙ ˙
œ œ
But where - with
sus:
œ b˙.
Love shall be
π,
˙.
-
b˙ bœ ˙ Nœ w.
œ
œ b˙.
Je
œ ˙œ œ œ
a tempo
π, b p b bbbb ˙ .
˙
œ
ship
œ
Je - sus:
our
˙
π
26
our
œ œ œ œ
wor
œ
œ b ˙ b œ œ pœ
˙˙
˙ ˙.
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œ
be mine,
œ ˙.
be mine,
∫ ˙˙ ..
˙˙ ..
mine,
love
œœ œ
˙˙ ˙˙ ..
˙.
œœ
˙. ˙.
∫ ˙˙ ..
, , ,
6
F bb b b b ˙ . & b Ah!
b b b F˙ b & bb
b b b b F˙ . b V b
love
œ œ œ œ
˙.
˙.
to God and to
all
˙.
men,
all
˙.
love
God
F ? b b b ˙˙ bbb
love
b b ˙. & b b bb ˙ ? b b b b ˙˙˙ . bb
œœ ˙˙
œœ
˙. ˙.
to God
to
all
men,
œ˙ .
œœ
˙˙ . ˙
bbb b Ó p b & b œ ˙ b & b bbbb ˙ .
and gi4
Ó.
œ
and
w. sign.
w.
b V b bbbb ˙ .
,p ˙.
sign.
p ? b b b b ˙˙ .. bb
and and
sign. sign.
b & b bbbb ? bb b b bb
gi4
˙
˙˙ . ˙ ..
and
œ
˙
˙˙ .. ˙
œ œ
˙
love
˙.
œ ˙
for plea
œ ˙.
for plea
∫˙
˙˙ ˙.
˙
œ
and gi4
πU w.
,
πU ww ..
,
U www ...
w .. w uw .
, ,
for plea,
and gi4 and
œ
˙˙
œ
˙w˙. .
˙.
F nnnbbb ˙
a tempo
œœ
œ
œ
˙
Love came down
n n n b b bF œ œ œ
w.
œ
w.
and sign, sign,
˙.
gi4,
œ
and sign,
œ ˙
for plea
w. ˙.
˙ ˙
œ œ
sign,
w. w. ˙.
œ ˙
œ
Love came
F nnnbbb ˙
œ
œ ˙
œ
at Christ - mas,
down at Christ
˙.
˙
Love came down,
nnn bbb ˙ œ œ œ œ n n n b b b ˙œ œ œœ
˙˙
˙
love
œ œ
œ˙ . œ œ
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˙ ˙
-
œ
œ
œ
love all
œ œ œ
love
all
˙.
mas,
˙.
came down,
œ œ
œ˙ œ œœ
œ œœ œœ œ ˙. ˙.
,
and
œ œ œ
at Christ - mas,
F like a dance, with inner joy nnnbbb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Love came down
˙ ,
ww ..
œ
˙˙ .
like a dance, with inner joy
˙
w.
and sign,
œ ˙
˙
poco a poco dimin.
œœ ˙˙ .. ∫˙
œ
and gi4
poco a poco dimin.
ẇ .
ww ..
˙.
,
˙
œ
w. ˙.
n w .. w ˙.
,
love
love
πU ww .. ˙.
sign.
œ ˙.
poco a poco dimin.
love
πU w.
nw.
˙˙ . œ
gi4
n ˙˙˙ ..
˙
poco a poco dimin. , Alove w. ˙w. . ˙ œ ˙.
b ˙˙ ..
˙˙ .. ˙.
œœ
œ
n ˙˙ ..
˙˙ ..
œ œ
rit.
36
˙
men,
œ
,
b˙.
˙.
˙.
31
7
b ˙ &bb
love - ly,
b &bb œ œ œ ˙
love di - vine;
b V b b ˙.
love
? b ˙. bb
love
œ œ œ ˙.
n˙.
-
-
˙ ˙
b & b b ˙.
ly,
˙.
sign.
b & b b b w˙ . nœ n˙ Nœ sign.
sign, the sign.
b Vbb ˙
œ ˙.
? bb b ˙ . b ˙.
˙˙ ..
sign.
sign.
b ˙. & b b b ˙˙w.. nœ n˙ Nœ ? b b b ˙˙ . b ˙.
œ
, f ˙
love was born
, f ˙ ˙
di - vine;
ẇ .
˙˙ .. ˙.
œ ˙ n˙.
a tempo
Love
,F ˙
Love
œ ˙
shall be
Love
œ ˙ œ
˙˙ ˙.
œ
˙ ˙˙
shall be
shall be
˙.
œœ
˙˙ ˙
œœ œ
˙˙
œ ˙. our
to
. œ œ œ œ ˙
,F œ œ œ ˙ ,F ˙w. .
œ ˙
love was born
˙. ww . .
,F ˙
˙
love was born
œ w. œ w.
œ œ œ ˙ œ
poco rit.
f œ ˙.
ly, di - vine;
b ˙ & b b œ œ œœ œ˙ œ œœœ ? b ˙˙ .. bb
,
œ ˙
di - vine;
œœ ˙˙
love was born
œ ˙
love - ly, love
46
, f˙ ˙
œ œ œ œ w.
41
our
to
œ ˙
our
Ah!
to
-
at
œ
at
œ
at
œœ œ
˙
Christ - mas, star and
˙˙ ..
˙
Christ
-
˙. Christ
˙˙ ˙
˙˙ .. ˙.
œ œ
œ œ œ œœ œ
œ ˙
˙˙
an - gels gave
˙
œ ˙
-
mas, an - gels gave
œœ œ
˙˙
œœ
˙
œ ˙
˙˙˙
œœœ œ
˙˙
ken,
love shall be yours
and love
œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
ken,
˙w. .
˙
˙˙ ..
˙˙ .
œ œ œ ˙. w.
œ
˙ ˙ w ..
œ ˙˙
love
œ ˙˙ . .
be yours
œ ˙
œ
œœ œœ
œœ
œ
˙ ˙. ˙.
œ
œ the
˙ ˙
œ
œ œ
f U̇.
be mine,
f U̇ œ .
be mine,
yours and love
be mine,
˙˙ .
œ ˙. ˙.
˙˙
œ œ
œ œ œœ ˙ ˙.
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˙˙˙ ˙. ˙.
,
f œ U̇.
and love
œ œ œ œ ˙
be
the
˙˙œ œ œœœ
œ rit.
the
œ
˙
œ
the
œœ ˙œ œ œ œ
mas, an - gels gave
œœ œœ œ œ œ œ
ken, love shall
œ
an - gels gave
˙.
˙ œ œœ œ ˙˙ .
œ
˙
œ ˙
œ œ
˙ ˙
œœ œœ œ œ
at Christ - mas, star and
œ ˙. -
˙˙
œ œ œ ˙
˙ -
œœ
f U˙ . , b˙.
œœ œ
U˙ . ˙.
U˙ . ˙. b˙.
8
b &bb bb P & b ˙w.. b Vbb
˙.
Ah!
F ? bb ˙ b ˙. P
love
love
b & b b w˙ .. ? bb ˙ b ˙.
œ œ œ œ ˙. ˙.
œ œ ˙.
b˙.
all
men,
˙˙˙ .. .
b b ˙˙ ..
˙. ˙.
œ
b˙.
Ah!
w.
dim.
w.
dim.
Ah! love
, ˙ ˙.
love
˙ Nœ b˙.
œ ˙. ˙. b˙.
˙w . ˙.
˙.
Love ,P ˙ p ˙.
˙.
˙ .w .
œ
˙.
b V b b w. ? bb w . b w .
˙
œ
love came down
w .˙ .
˙
w. w. œ
b ˙˙ ..
˙
˙˙
˙. w.
œœ
b ˙˙ . ˙
œ
at
œ
˙.
œ ˙. ˙.
dim.
˙ ˙
œ ˙
plea
and gi4
˙˙ .. w. ˙w . ˙
b˙.
, P N˙
˙.
, P ˙
Christ - mas,
w.
œ
˙. ˙.
w. w.
, P ˙
œ
Love
˙˙ ..
down,
p œ w. w.
and sign,
b ˙˙ . .
œ
œ
˙
œ
˙ nœ
œ œ
˙.
b˙. ˙.
œœ
˙ ˙.
œ
˙ ˙.
˙
œ
˙
w. w.
˙
œ
œ
˙.
œ b˙.
love came down,
˙. ˙.
˙.
˙˙
˙˙ .. ˙.
love came down,
˙.
came
œ
˙
love came down,
love
˙˙ . ˙.
love came down,
love came down,
, P ˙˙ ..
w. w. œ
came down,
, p w.
w.
˙.
Ah!
for plea
for
˙. w.
˙. ˙.
˙.
˙.
, p˙ .a tempo
love came down,
love came down,
? bb w . b w .
˙. ˙.
men,
all
God
b & b b ˙.
b & b b ˙˙ .
b b ˙˙ ..
b˙.
poco rit. dim.
Ah!
,
∑
to God and to
56
b &bb ˙
˙˙ ..
∑
œ
P ˙.
∑
∑
51
nœ
˙. ˙.
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down
˙˙
˙˙ . ˙.
b ˙˙ ..
œœ œ
at
˙˙ .
b˙. b ˙˙ ..
œ
9
b &bb ˙
poco a poco dimin.
61
b &bb
œ
love
˙
came down
poco a poco dimin.
love
b Vbb ˙
˙
œ
˙
came down
? b w. bb
at
œ
at
œ n˙
œ
came down
at
poco a poco dimin.
love
œ
poco a poco dimin.
-
Christ
b & b b ˙˙
? b w˙ . bb
œœ œ
˙˙
n˙
rit.
bw.
Christ Christ
˙ .w .
Christ Christ
A ˙ .w .
˙.
mas. -
-
œ
˙
Christ
-
w. w.
œ
bw. w .˙ .
A˙. w.
˙. ˙
b ˙w.. u
-
mas. -
b ˙w.. u
mas.
w. uw .
œ
Love
mas.
mas.
mas.
œœ
Very calm h.= 32
w. u
-
"π ˙.
U b ww .˙. . b ˙w.. uw .
u̇. . u̇
U ˙. U ˙.
"π N ˙˙ ..
Love
˙.
came
˙˙ ..
"Nπ˙ .
came
" π˙ . ˙.
came
Love
b˙.
uw .
niente
uw .
niente
down...
down...
w. u
˙. ˙.
down...
Love
came
down...
˙. N ˙˙˙ ...
˙. b ˙˙˙ ...
˙˙ ..
˙. ˙.
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w. uw . U ww .. ww ..
w. u
niente
niente