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Composer's Note: I began this project as a gift to the Sing Omaha Youth Choirs (3-6th grade) and Girls Choir (7-12th grade) in tandem with a multi-movement "Gloria" was composing for the Sing Omaha Master Chorale (auditioned adults). Both compositions were included in a grant from the Nebraska Arts Council, and both received their premier at Sing Omaha' s 2024 "Christmas Fanfare" concerts. In writing for such a diverse age group, I endeavored to create singable (and memorable) melodic material for both verse and refrain material. I approached that challenge with an effort toward balancing simplicity with sincerity in both lyric and tune, and the result, I hope, feels like a modern ' carol' of sorts, with ' warmth' added by the French Horn. This is also the first project for which I composed both music and lyrics, which was a joy. Rehearsal Notes: The form is worth noting first, as it will make teaching quite efficient. The verses are at Letters A and C respectively, with the refrain at B and D, and a brief coda at E. Verse melody is largely triadic with a mix of stepwise motion and triadic skips. I actually rewrote the melody at measures 22 and 63 because the commissioning choir preferred the triadic motion to my original stepwise idea. Solfege users can build skill here with so-mi-do passages alongside scalar material. NOTE: Please skip measures 44-47 if you do not have an obbligato instrument. Text: Autumn leaves have fallen, snow is coming soon. Frost upon the branches white beneath the moon. Friends are all around us, family' s drawing near searching for an answer to a question so dear: " W hat is Christmas? W hat does it mean? Can it be more than some lights on a tree?" I think it' s the love that we give and receive, and a light in the darkness, given for you and for me. Shadows on the rooftops, whispers in the air, snow is softly falling, love is everywhere. Gathered close together feeling something new. Wondering if Christmas holds a light that is true. " W hat is Christmas? W hat does it mean? Can it be more than some lights on a tree?" I think it' s the love that we give and receive, and a light in the darkness, given for you and for me. A light in the darkness was given for you and for me. This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

For the Sing Omaha Girls Choir and Youth Choirs

What is Christmas? 4:00

Warmly q = 76

C Instrument

bb 3 &b b b 4 Œ

{

œ œ œ œ œ

bb 3 œ &b b b 4 œ

Piano

œ̇

? bb b 3 œ œ b b4

b œ & b bbb œ œ

{

bbb œ™ b & b ˙

Pno.

œ œ

œj œ œ

œ̇

˙ ? bb b bb œ œ

bb œ A ¢& b b b œ œ

fal

A bbb œœ b & b

œ œ

Au - tumn leaves have

{

œ œ

œœ œ œœ ˙

œ œ œ œ

bœ œ

œ œ

len,

œ œ œ

snow is com - ing

soon.

œ œ œ

˙ œ

˙˙ ™™ œ œ

˙ œ œ

Pno.

œ ˙ œ

° b b mf œ S &b b b œ œ 9

œ̇ œ

j ‰ œ

œ œ œ œ

Pedal ad lib

C Inst.

œ œ

‰

œ™

Warmly q = 76

Music and lyrics by Matt Hill

Au - tumn leaves have

? bb b œ œ bb

œ̇ œ

œ fal

˙ -

len,

œ̇ œ ˙

snow is com - ing

œœ

œ œ

œ bœ œ

œœ œ

soon.

œœ œ ˙ œ

œ œ œ œ œ

° bb S &b b b œ œ œ

Frost up - on

bb b & ¢ bb œ œ œ

the

œ œ

{

Frost up - on

b b œœ b & bb

Pno.

œ ? bb bbb œ œ

° bb S &b b b œ œ œ

œ the

Pno.

{

œ œ

° bb S &b b b œ œ œ A

Pno.

bbb b & b œ œ œ ¢

{

search - ing for

b & b bbb œœ

œ œ

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

branch - es

œ œ œ̇ œ œ œ œ

œ ™™ œ

œœ

œ œ œ

the

moon.

œ œ œ

white be - neath

the

œ œ

œœ œ

˙˙ ™™ œ

œ œ œ

fam - ily's draw - ing

œ œ œ

near,

fam - ily's draw - ing

œ œ

near,

œ œ

œœœ

œ J

œ œ

bœ œ œ

swer

œ œ

ques

- tion

dear:

œ œ

˙™

swer

œœ œ

œ œ œ

ques

œ œ œ

- tion

œ œ

œ Œ Œ

˙˙ ˙ œ̇

˙™

dear:

œœ

œœœ

moon.

œ œ

œ an

us,

œœ

œ œ

white be - neath

œ œ

a - round

search - ing for

us,

Friends are all

œ ? bb b œ œ bb

a - round

œ œ œ

branch - es

Friends are all

b œ & b bbb œ

bbb b & b œ œ œ ¢

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˙˙˙ œ

C Inst.

bb &b b b

° bb S &b b b Œ bb A ¢& b b b Œ

{

B bbb œ™ b & b ˙

Pno.

C Inst.

What

œj œ œ

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

b & b bbb

bb A ¢& b b b

œ œ

Can

What does it

œj œ œ œ œ

œ œ

lights

Œ œ a

œ œ œ

than some

lights

tree?

bbb œœ b & b

œ œ

œœ

œ œ

œ œ œœ œ

œ œ

˙˙

? bb b bb œ

œ œ

‰

j œ

sub. mp

{

œ œ œ œ

œ œ

tree?

œ œ

sub. mp

Can

mean?

˙˙

∑

than some

œ œ

mean?

‰ j œ œ œ œ

∑

‰ j œ œ ˙ œ What does it

œ™ ˙

Christ - mas?

œ œ œ œ ˙

Christ - mas?

∑

° bb S &b b b œ

Pno.

∑

‰

œ œ

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j œ

sub. mp

C Inst.

bb &b b b ˙

° bb S &b b b œ

think

bb A ¢& b b b

{

think

bbb œœ b & b

Pno.

? bb b bb œ

œ œ œ

it's the

œœ œ

it's the

œ œ œ œ

b & b bbb œ

a tempo

° b b a tempo S &b b b œ œ A

bbb b & b ¢

{

œ œ

love

that we

œ œ

love

that we

œ œ

œ œœ œ

œ œ œ

œ œ

give

and

œ œ œ

giv

a tempo

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

the

œj œ œ œ œ

dark - ness

œœ œ

œ œ œ œ

œœ ™™

˙˙ œ œ œ ˙

giv

œ œ œ

œ -

ceive,

dark - ness

and a

˙™

œœ Œ œ œ

f rit.

mf mf

ceive,

re -

the

˙˙ ™™

œ œ œ œ

œ œ

f rit.

re -

light

f rit.

œ œ

give

œœ œœ

˙ œ

œ œ

light

œ™ b ˙ b &b b b

Pno.

œ œ œ

C Inst.

œ œ

and a

j œ œœ œœœ œ œ œ œ ˙

˙˙ ˙

œ œ

j œ ‰

rit. rit.

for

you

and

for

you

and

for

œ œ

œ̇

œ œ

rit.

œ œ

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C Inst.

bb &b b b œ œ œ a tempo

‰

œ™

œ œ œ œ

j ‰ œ

° b b a tempo S & b b b ˙™

∑

bb b & ¢ b b ˙™

∑

œ œœ œ œ̇ œ

œ œ œ œ

me.

Pno.

{

me.

bbb œ̇ ™ b & b

œ œ œ œ œ̇

? bb b œ œ bb

a tempo

C Inst.

Pno.

b & b bbb œ

° bb &b b b

œ œ œœ œ œ

œ œ œ

œ œ bœ œ

j œ œ

œ™

œ ˙

∑

bbb b & b ¢

∑

b œ & b bbb œ

œ œ

{

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

œ œ œ

œ œ œ œ

œ œ œ

œœ œ

œ œ

œ œ œ

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œ œ œ

C Inst.

bb &b b b

° b b mf S &b b b œ œ œ

Shad - ows on

the

b b mf œ b A ¢& b b œ œ

{

Shad - ows on

the

C bbb œœ œœ œœ œ œ b œ œ & b

Pno.

œ ? bb b œ œ bb mf

C Inst.

b & b bbb

œ œ œ

roof - tops,

bbb b & b ¢

snow is soft - ly

œ œ œ

the

air,

œ œ œ

whisp - ers in

œ̇ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

whisp - ers in

snow is soft - ly

œ bœ œ

œ œ œ

fall - ing

fall

love is ev - 'ry -

œ ing

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

Œ Œ

˙˙˙ œ ˙

œ œ œ

where.

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

love is ev

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ œ œ œ œ b œ &b b b

Pno.

air,

∑

the

œ œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœœ œ

∑ œ

{

œ œ œ œ

∑

° bb S &b b b œ œ œ A

œ œ œ

∑

œ œ œ

- 'ry -

œ œ œ

where.

œ œ œ

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œ œ

C Inst.

bb &b b b ˙

° b b mf S &b b b œ œ œ

Gath - ered close

Pno.

{

C Inst.

œ̇ œ œ

œ ? bb b œ œ bb

b & b bbb œ œ œ

œ œ œ

feel - ling some - thing

new,

œ œ

˙˙

œ bœ œ

bbb b & b ¢

{

œ œ œ

œ œ

won - der - ing

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

feel - ling some - thing

œ œ œ

œ̇ œ œ œ œ

new,

œ œ œ ˙

œœ œ œ œœ œ œ

œœ œœ

˙˙ ™™

that

true.

œ œ

œœœ

˙˙ ˙

light

œ œ œ œ

light

that

œ œœ œ

œ œ

œ œœ œ

Christ - mas holds a

œœ

j œ œ œ ‰ œ œ

Christ - mas holds a

œ œ

° bb œ & b b b œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ won - der - ing

œ œ œ

to - geth

bbb œœ b & b

Pno.

Gath - ered close

to - geth

b b mf b A ¢& b b œ œ œ œ b œ b &b b b

true.

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œ™

œ œ

D bb ˙ b & bb

C Inst.

œ œ œ œ J

° bb Œ S &b b b

What

bb A ¢& b b b Œ

Pno.

{

œ œ

D b & b bbb Œ ˙™

What

œ œ

˙ ? bb b bb œ œ f

C Inst.

Christ

œ̇

™

° bb S &b b b œ

Can

bb A ¢& b b b

{

Can

b & b bbb œ̇

Pno.

? bb b bb œ

™

œ™

Christ - mas?

œ œ

œ™

œ̇

mas?

œ œ œ œ

œ œ

lights

œ œœ a

œ œ œ

than some

lights

œ ˙™

œ̇

mean?

œœ

mean?

œ ˙

j œ œ œ ˙

What does it

œ ˙

j œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ

™

than some

What does it

œ ˙

b & b bbb œ

œ œ œ ˙

œ œ

sub. mp sub. mp

‰

˙˙

tree?

j œ I

sub. mp

tree?

œ-

œœœ

˙˙ œ

œ œ

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‰

j œ I

sub. mp

C Inst.

bb ˙ &b b b

° bb S &b b b œ bb A ¢& b b b

Pno.

{

think

b & b bbb œ̇ ™

œ œ

it's the

œ œ

it's the

œ œ œ ? bb b bb œ

b & b bbb

a tempo

bbb b & b ¢

{

œ œ

light

œ œ

light

bbb œœ b & b

Pno.

love

œ̇ œ

∑

° bb S &b b b œ A

œ œ

™

that we

give

œ œ

that we

and

give

and

œ̇

œ œ œ

˙˙ ™™

œœ Œ œ œ

re - ceive,

and a

œ œ

˙™

re - ceive,

œœ ™™

poco rit.

œ œ œ

the

œ œœ œ

a tempo

˙ ? bb b œ bb œ

œ œ œ œ ˙

œ œ

dark - ness

giv - en

œ œ

œ̇ œ œ œ œœ

dark - ness

œ ˙

j œ œ œ

œ œ

œ œ œ œ

˙™

œ œ

˙™

poco rit.

œœ œ

œ œœ œ

œ œ

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a tempo

œ œ

and for

œ œ

œ œ œ

me.

you

a tempo mf

and for

for

œ œ

and a

you

œ œ œ œ œ

œ œ œœ œ œ

for

giv - en

œ Ó

œœ œœ

œ œ

˙™

œ œ

poco rit.

C Inst.

poco rit.

me.

a tempo

˙ ˙ œ

œ œ

œ œ œ

C Inst.

bb &b b b œ

° bb S &b b b bb A ¢& b b b

{

b œ & b bbb œ

Pno.

? bb b œ œ bb

C Inst.

b & b bbb œ

œ™ ∑

{

‰ j œ œ

œ œ

∑

œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ

œœ œ œ œœœ œ œ

‰ j œ œ

rit.

∑ œ

was

giv

was

œ œ œœ

giv

œ -

œ œ œ

˙˙˙ ˙

œœ œ œ œ

œ bœ œ œ

? bb b ˙˙ bb ˙

A light

bbb b & b œ ¢

Pno.

œ œ

∑

bbb ˙˙˙˙ b & b

A light

° bb S &b b b œ A

‰ œœœ œ

E œ

rit.

in the

dark - ness

œ œ

in the

œœ ™™ œ™ œ

j œ œ œœ œœ

œ ˙˙ œœ˙

mp a tempo

∑

dark - ness

E ˙˙ ™™™ ˙ mp

œ œ œ

a tempo

˙™

for

you

and

for

me,

˙™

for

you

and

for

me,

œ œ

œœ

œ̇

œ œ

œ œ œ œ œ

œ œ

rit.

œ œ

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a tempo

bb &b b b œ

° bb S &b b b

∑

{

∑

° bb S &b b b œ

œœ

œ œ œœ œ

œœ

œ œ

bœ œ

-œ

rit.

you

and

for

me.

˙™ ˙™

bbb b & b œ ¢

˙™

œœ

˙™ ˙™

you

and

for

me.

œ b œ b &b b b

œ œ

œ ? bb b œ bb œ

œ œ œ œ

œœ œ

œ œ œ

œœ

∑

∑ ∑

œœ ™™

p rit.

œ œ

j œ œ œ

U ˙˙˙ ™™™ ˙ ™

∏∏∏∏∏

? bb b œ œ bb

{

∑

œ œ œœ œ

b & b bbb

Pno.

for

∑

˙™

∑

b œ & b bbb œ

C Inst.

for

bb A ¢& b b b

Pno.

œ œ œ

˙™ ˙˙ ™™

∏∏∏∏∏∏∏

C Inst.

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What is Christmas | Matt Hill | MusicSpoke