William Averitt

A Babe Is Born, All of a Maid

Commissioned for Choral Arts Northwest who gave its premiere performance in 2011 under their artistic director, Robert Bode. The music is primarily contrapuntal in texture, and its tonal language features a certain level of dissonance but within a diatonically modal context. There is a textual climax about two-thirds of the way through, mirrored in the music: a short quieter section follows, leading to an ecstatic 'Gloria' conclusion. Duration: 3:40