Pyrenean Carol Suite

Although the suite is intended to be performed whole, it is also intended for usage with a selection of movements on occasions where a shorter piece is wanted.

i. Nadal Tindaire (Jingling Christmas) - Occitan traditional

This Occitan Christmas song tells of musical instruments used to celebrate the Nativity - ‘fifes and trumpets, timpani and pipes, or you, clear little bells, along with the angels’ choir.’

ii. Gabriel’s Message (Birjina Gaztetto Bat Zegoen) - Basque traditional

The most widely-known of the chosen carols, honouring Jesus’s mother Mary, this is often sung in its English version, but the melody came from the Basque country.

iii. El Noi de la Mare (The Child of the Mother) - Catalan traditional

A beautiful Catalan carol celebrating the birth of Jesus, telling of the tasty gifts that the singer would bring - ‘Raisins and figs and nuts and olives.

iv. Paure Satan (Poor Satan) - Occitan traditional

This rather unusual carol tells of the pain that Satan is put to by the arrival of the infant Jesus. Its mocking and sarcastic tone is reflected here, where the tuba soloist (as Satan) is given musical trouble throughout by the other parts.

v. Fum, Fum, Fum! - Catalan traditional

A favourite Catalan Christmas song for centuries, this rousing melody provides a fitting way to round off the suite, with its repeated rhythmic refrain of the nonsense title phrase.