Elgar: A Christmas Greeting - Symphonic Wind Dectet/Bass

In December 1907, whilst in Rome, Elgar composed a part-song carol, 'A Christmas Greeting', putting music to the words of a poem written by his wife Alice.

He sent the piece back to the UK for Dr G R Sinclair and the choristers of Hereford Cathedral to use in their Carol Concert to be held the Cathedral. 

It was written for two female sopranos, a male chorus and accompanied by two violins and a pianoforte and was published by Novello and company. The setting is for high voices, with optional tenor and bass parts and, like the Enigma theme, it is in G minor and G major.

It contains a quotation from the 'Pastoral Symphony' in Handel's Messiah at the reference to pipers (Pifferari) wandering far.

It is arranged for double wind quintet (decet, dectet ot tentet)