A new a cappella arrangement by James Kennerley, From Heaven above sets verses from the Advent chorale Vom Himmel hoch (Martin Luther, 1534) as translated by Catherine Winkworth. As such, the work is suitable for Advent and Christmas use in concert and liturgical settings.

The melody is O Waly Waly, a traditional Scottish folk song that pairs beautifully with Winkworth’s text. I have attempted to craft a setting that preserves the inherent simplifty of the melody (and, in many senses, the words), ornamenting it with descants, alternate harmonizations, and fauxbourdon. The piece was composed in 2022 and is dedicated to the Choir of Saint Paul’s, Harvard Square, which sang its first performances in December of that year.

Listen to the première performance by clicking here.

This is a digital download. You will be contacted within 24 hours with the download information. Minimum order is 5 copies. Please order the appropriate number of copies for your ensemble.

Duration: 4 minutes