Christmas commission 26.11.2020

Angel-Song has been written especially for us by award-winning composer and TV presenter, Howard Goodall CBE. He wrote the TV theme tunes: Blackadder, Mr Bean, Red Dwarf, The Vicar of Dibley and QI. He has also composed several musicals, film scores and choral works.

Howard has written “Angel-Song” for us. It is a beautiful two-part choral piece that covers the full story of Christmas with a text by Sara Teasdale. It has a jolly tune and some wonderful “Alleluia” and “Deo Gracias” interjections. A small group of singers from the Senior Choir will be recording it next week and will perform it live next year. The Year 7s and the Year 8s enjoyed chatting to Howard over Zoom about this piece and about his career this week and asked plenty of searching questions about his career and what it was like to compose the music to Mr Bean! 

Music is such an essential part of Christmas. The choristers have loved getting to know Angel-Song and preparing it for performance – even if that performance has to be delayed to 2021. The annual Christmas Carol commission inspires the children to sing their best and to compose their own music. In recent years we have enjoyed commissioned music by Lin Marsh, Michael Higgins, Alexander L’Estrange and Malcolm Archer.

David Hall
Director of Music