Merry Christmas for two (2002)
16 Christmas carols set for two equal voices by Bertold Hummel
"Wake up", the voice calls to us | The snow trickles softly | A ship is coming loaded | O Saviour, open the heavens | A rose has sprung | Angels sing in the fields | From heaven on high | In dulci jubilo | Born in Bethlehem | Come, ye shepherds | We greet you, O Child Jesus | Little children, come | Joseph, dear Joseph mine | O Christmas tree | O Merry Christmas | Silent night
Bertold Hummel suggested the following scoring options:
2 violins | oboe and violin | flute and violin | 2 clarinets | 2 bass clarinets | 2 violas | 2 cellos | 2 E flat alto saxophones | 2 bassoons
The various part books can be interchanged as required, so that two-part music-making is also possible with different instruments and instrument groups.
Zimmermann Musikverlag Frankfurt
Edition C-instruments: ZM 35000 / ISMN M-010-35000-4
Edition Bb-instruments: ZM 35001 / ISMN M-010-3001-1
Edition: E-flat instruments: ZM 35002 / ISMN M-010-35002-8
Edition: alto clef: ZM 35003/ ISMN M-010-35003-5
Edition: Bass clef: ZM 35004 / ISMN M-010-35004-2
viewed by the specialist advisors for the Association of German Music Schools (VdM) in the woodwind section. Clarinet (Bb and Eb instruments)
Fröhliche Weihnachtszeit zu zweit / 16 Advent and Christmas songs for two equal voices,
edited by Bertold Hummel
Instrumentation:
Category: Musical literature
Level of difficulty: Lower level
Sophisticated selection of songs (range up to C sharp"') for the season mentioned. Very skilful and sophisticated arrangements that clearly stand out from the usual mass offerings. Very good layout. (highly recommended)
Frank Klüger
viewed by the specialist advisors for the VdM. Specialist area woodwind instruments. Recorder
The song movements can be played throughout by a soprano and an alto recorder, whereby the player of the 2nd part would have to play in octaves. Music students do not generally master this skill. The lower part is demanding and a very sensitive accompaniment to the melody. It requires a skilful breathing technique in order to act as a carpet of sound. It can be used well in pupil/teacher interplay, as the lower part is usually more difficult to set and octave. If the lower part is played by the pupil, the breathing slurs should be a focal point of the work. Knowledge of the song is a prerequisite for a meaningful accompaniment.
Christel Wolff
Foreword
For Bertold Hummel, making music at Christmas time was a matter of course throughout his life. Whether as a boy singer in his father's school choir, as a cantor in his Freiburg parish, as a cellist or as a happy family man at the piano, he always enjoyed helping to organise this festive season. As a composer, he enjoyed putting a new spin on the old Christmas carols. This resulted in numerous compositions ranging from simple choral pieces to chamber and orchestral music to the great choral fantasia "O du fröhliche Weihnachtszeit" for 2 choirs, 4 organs, trumpets and trombones. Works with which he was able to move many people.
It was touching for us when, last summer, after a full life and an enormous compositional output of over 200 pieces of music in all genres, he wrote these Christmas carol arrangements as his last work. As if it were a return to the essentials, he once again set himself the challenge of making a melody sound with only one counterpart.
We are delighted that Zimmermannverlag had the idea of designing this little work with the wonderful watercolours by Sepp Wurster. My father got to know this versatile artist during his time as a student in Freiburg. In mutual admiration for their imaginative creatures, they developed a friendship that lasted a lifetime and can be documented here for the first time in an artistic edition.
We wish everyone who plays and sings these songs a Merry Christmas.
for the family in December 2002
Martin Hummel