JOYEUX NOEL

Arranger:   MARTIN, GILBERT M

The tradition of Christmas carols harks back as far as the Middle Ages. Carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as the winter season, and none were more poignant than those that appeare d from the rich musical heritage of the French countryside. To our modern ears, the French carol has a strong tune, usually based on medieval chord patterns, with a unique and distinctively innocent dancing charm—even in a piquant min or key. The preludes, offertories and postludes in Mr. Martin’s lively and ten der organ collection of familiar melodies and tunes brilliantly capture that G allic spirit with vigorous earthiness, rollicking fun and tender, heart-breaki ng phrases so long identified with the generic hymnal inscription “based on a French Noël.”