What Sudden Blaze of Song (2026)

Choral: SacredChristmas
Written By Tobias Patrick Wolf

Text taken from John Keble’s Christmas Day

Mixed Choir (SAATB)

Duration:
4’

First performance:
TBC

Score

Coming Soon

Programme note

What Sudden Blaze of Song is a setting of sections of John Keble’s beloved Christmas Day, famous for its powerful, memorable opening lines. Keble’s poem runs to eleven verses and for practicalities sake, I have taken the first two and sections of the final verse with the beautiful closing statement of ‘And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise.’ My piece aims to capture the atmosphere and majesty of this ‘blaze of song’ with solo lines and choral clusters alternating with more declamatory moments and fanfares of celebration. Song is present throughout, no more so than in the second verse where a long soprano solo is accompanied by a multitude of voices all singing the same song in wordless heterophony.

 PAC

Tobias Patrick Wolf

Tobias is an award-winning German conductor and composer based in North East Scotland. He is Music Director of the renowned King’s Studio Orchestra (Scotland), the Braeside Singers (Aberdeen) and Principal Guest Conductor of the German Winds. Tobias is PhD researcher at the University of Aberdeen, exploring hybrid composition and performance practice. Sought after as guest conductor for ensembles around the globe, he brings new music to life — for audiences in the concert hall, on radio and television, and across multi-platform online streaming services.

https://www.tpwolf.com
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Suite (in modo semplice) (2025-26)