The Oxford Book of Flexible Carols

Alan Bullard was born in London and studied with Herbert Howells at the Royal College of Music, and at Nottingham University. He enjoyed a successful career in music education; for many years he was Head of Composition at Colchester Institute, and is currently an examiner for ABRSM. He now devotes most of his time to composing, editing, and arranging. His music unfailingly appeals to both performers and audiences; he has written for all kinds of choirs, and instrumental works for a variety of ensembles and orchestras. Alan is a respected writer of music for examination syllabuses and educational albums. His major publications include the four inspirational Oxford Flexible Choral Anthologies, Alan Bullard Anthems, and the five cantatas Wondrous Cross, O Come Emmanuel, A Light in the Stable, Psalmi Penitentiales, and Images of Peace. He and his wife Janet also write the Pianoworks series for the older beginner.

I reviewed The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems a number of months ago and welcomed it with open arms. The carol book is equally welcome, and a must-buy for choirs who don't know the size of their forces from one week to the next, or the sort of choir that only gets men for Christmas, as it were . . . What you get here is a generous selection of well-known favourites in easy (and of course flexible) arrangements . . . and a fine sprinkling of new pieces, most of which are highly original and interesting. By no means is this book just for small amateur choirs: there is much for all in its 279 pages.

• A babe is born ; A little child there is yborn ; Adam lay ybounden ; Adam lay ybounden ; Angels, from the realms of glory ; Away in a manger ; Away With Your Sorrows ; Born this day is the Son of God ; Cantemos a Maria ; Child of the stable's secret birth ; Christmas-tide ; Christmas Lullaby ; Come and Worship! ; Come, let us all with heart and voice ; Coventry Carol ; Ding dong! merrily on high ; Falantidida ; Gaudete! ; Gloucestershire Wassail ; Gold for a manger bed ; Go tell it on the mountain ; Good Christians all, rejoice ; His Praises We'll Sing ; Il est ne, le divin enfant ; In the Beginning ; In the bleak mid-winter ; Infant holy, infant lowly ; Jesus Christ is here! ; Mary's Cradle Song ; Natus est Immanuel ; Now is the Time for Christemas! ; O faithful star ; O holy night! ; Past three o'clock ; Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow ; See amid the winter's snow ; Silent night ; Song of the Wise Men ; Star Carol ; Starry night ; Still, still, still ; Sweet was the song ; Te Kaiwhakaora ; The Cherry Tree Carol ; The First Christmas ; The light of the world ; The Night is Still ; The Saviour's Come ; The Truth from Above ; There is no rose ; Tomorrow shall be my dancing day ; We three kings of Orient are ; We wish you a merry Christmas ; What child is this? ; When Christ was born of Mary free ; Wisselton, wasselton