A Christmas Peace
PEL2030SATB

3’00”

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PEL2030SSA

SATB or SSA and piano, optional organ or strings

A lyrical and poignant arrangement combining ‘America The Beautiful’ with ‘Silent Night’ created in memory of September 11, 2001. A beautiful conclusion to any American Christmas program.

Instrumental Part: Organ
Full Score and String Parts

Level: Moderate
PEL1000 Single Track CD

Agnus Dei (Hodie Christus Natus Est)

2’00”

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PEL2057SATB

SATB unaccompanied

From Paul Halley’s Missa ‘Hodie Christus Natus Est’.  Opening with soprano solo intoning the Gregorian chant, the composition soon moves from simple to sublime with the lush harmonies and impressionistic colors for which Halley is known.                                                                                              

Level: Difficult
CD What Child Is This?

Angelus Ad Virginem

3’30”

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PEL2058SATB

SATB and organ

Unison chanting of verses from the 13th century (Arundel MS), alternating between higher voices and lower voices. The organ accompaniment forms a rich background of harmony, and the descant soars.                                                         

Level: Easy
CD What Child Is This?

Christe Qui Lux Es Et Dies

7’30”

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PEL2019SATB

SATB unaccompanied                                  

Christe, Qui Lux Es Et Dies (Christ, Who Art Both Light And Day), Commissioned by Coit Johnson for the birthday of Pamela Morton, wife of The Reverend James Parks Morton, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York. Combines the sixth century Latin hymn “O Christ Who Art Both Light and Day” with traditional plainsong in an a cappella setting with six solo lines. Lively and rhythmic, jazzy and evocative, filled with light and space in the arrangement ...sublime.

             Level: Difficult
CD Wondrous Love

Ere Zij God! (Glory To God!)

4’00”

PEL2085SATB

SATB and organ with brass sextet and timpani

A Christmas carol popular among American and Canadian Reformed churches that have Dutch roots. It is translated from the Dutch "Ere Zij God!" and is one of the most beloved carols sung in Protestant churches in the Netherlands. The lyrics are inspired by the songs of the angels when the birth of Christ was announced to the shepherds, Luke 2:14. First appearing in Dutch songbooks in 1857, the music is atrributed to F. A. Schultz, possibly 1731, Konigsberg, and is broad in style, in A-B-A form, with an extended, flowing, double-Amen ending. Halley's arrangement, opening with a brass fanfare, lifts the carol to majestic heights befitting the text.                              

Level: Easy

Gloria In Excelsis Deo

1’00”

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PEL2001SATB

SATB and organ, optional brass

Commissioned by the Choir of Men and Boys, St. Matthew’s Church, Ottawa, Brian Law, director. A short, jubilant choral fanfare that derives its energy from a recurring dotted quarter-note, eighth-note, quarter-note motive.  “Throughout the composition, Halley’s sense of drama and motion never falters; at one minute’s duration, it would serve as an enthusiastic and impressive opening in worship and concert settings.”  – Michael Braz, The Choral Journal  
 

Instrumental Parts Pkg:
Full Score & Brass Quartet

Level: Easy
CD Wondrous Love

Go Tell It On The Mountain

3’30”

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PEL2044SATB

SATB unaccompanied                                  

“An exciting and quite challenging arrangement of the familiar text and tune. Rich, jazz-inspired harmonies, carefully scripted syncopations, and a couple of tricky modulations, will keep everyone on their toes, but could well also bring a congregation to its feet.” – The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians (Nov 2006)

             Level: Moderate to Difficult
CD What Child Is This?

Good King Wenceslas

3’30”

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PEL2045SATB

SATB and organ                                    

A fun arrangement of this traditional carol with dramatic roles for all, including solos for the robust but saintly King, his stammering Page, a choir of treble Angels, and storm effects for the rest. A warm-hearted rendition of the drama with Halley’s signature harmonies.  Great joy!                                       

             Level: Easy to Moderate
CD What Child Is This?

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
hymn arrangement

3’00”

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PEL5023SATB

SATB and organ, with brass quintet

A gorgeous arrangement of this joyful carol classic. The soaring descant on the last verse is the finishing touch to a memorable Christmas concert. Scored for choir, organ, brass quintet and timpani.
 

Full Score and Instrumental Parts: Brass Quintet

Level: Easy
Descant recorded on
CD Christmas Angelicus

Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant

4’10”

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PEL2074SATB

SATB and organ                                    

A sprightly and joyful arrangement of this traditional French carol. Scored for choir and organ with brass sextet and snare drum, this arrangement has unexpected freshness. Changing tempos, key modulations, and Halley harmonies keep the choir on their toes, while the congregation joins in easily on the refrain. Great fun for everyone.
 

Full Score and Instrumental Parts: Brass Sextet and Percussion - $45.

             Level: Moderate
Can be heard on CBC Concerts on Denand

Infinite Light

3’00”

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PEL2039SATB

SATB and organ

A light and lively traditional English melody with a fluid yet rhythmic organ part, culminating in a soaring, signature Halley descant. A lovely setting of text for Epiphany.                                  

             Level: Easy
CD What Child Is This?

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
hymn arrangement

3’30”

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PEL5031SATB

SATB and organ

This foundation of this arrangement is Arthur Sullivan's arrangement of the tune "Noel", the traditional English melody for this text. However, with the addition of Paul Halley's signature harmonies, inventive organ accompaniment, and glorious descant, this version will become your choir and congregation's new favorite.                                 

             Level: Easy
 

Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head

  3’00” 

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PEL2020SATB

SATB unaccompanied

An a cappella arrangement of the traditional Appalachian Christmas carol which simply and poignantly describes the humbleness of Jesus’ birth.                                                                 

             Level: Moderate
CD What Child Is This?

Joy To The World
hymn arrangement

4’00”

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PEL5024SATB

SATB and organ, with brass quintet and timpani

Opening with a brass fanfare, this is a VERY joyful  setting of this Christmas classic for choir, organ, brass quintet and timpani.
 

Full Score and Instrumental Parts: Brass Quintet and timpani

Level: Moderate
Can be heard on CBC Concerts on Demand

O Magnum Mysterium 

3’10”

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PEL2075SATB

SATB unaccompanied

A moody and atmospheric setting of the text from the Matins Responsory for Christmas. The lyrical melody has Eastern overtones and nuances, very appropriate to the text. Mystery and wonder evoked in music. Commissioned for The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.    

             Level: Moderate
 

Once In Royal David's City
hymn arrangement

3’00”

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PEL5022SATB

SATB and organ, with brass quintet

A beautiful opening to any Christmas concert or service. Paul Halley's arrangement emerges in its inventiveness and beauty after the first two verses familiarly harmonized by A. H. Mann.  Halley's deft handling of this beloved work is at once gentle and lovely, rich and inspiring, offering a give and take between voice parts in the inner verses, and culminating in a glorious descant for the sopranos on the last verse, a hallmark of Halley's style. Scored for choir, organ, brass quintet and timpani.
 

Instrumental Parts: Brass Quintet and Timpani - verses 5 & 6

Level: Moderate
Descant recorded on
CD Christmas Angelicus

Taladh Chriosda    

4'00"

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PEL2060SATB

SATB choir and organ with optional (improvised) bodhran

Tàladh Chriosda, also known as Tàladh ar Slànair, is based on a traditonal Scottish folk tune, sung at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the islands of Barra, South Uist, and Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. The words were written by Father Ranald Rankin, and given by him to the children of his congregation in Moidart, when he left for Australia in 1855. The original song has twenty-nine verses, and as with many old Gaelic songs, several variants of the tune exist. 

This version was arranged by Paul Halley for the University of King's College Chapel Choir for the concert series "A King's Christmas' in 2013, and performed again in 2016.                                                         

             Level: Easy

The Bright Daystar Is Comen Of His Heav'nly Towers

5’00”

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PEL2099
SSA or SATB/Treble

SSA or SATB/Treble with piano and organ

Scored for SSA or SATB/Treble choir with piano and organ, this arrangement combines the Advent Prose with a traditonal Scottish melody set to a text by William Dunbar for Christmas.

Commissioned by The New York City Children's Chorus to celebrate the choir's fifth anniversary, Mary Huff, Director.                                                        

Level: Moderate
Not yet recorded.

The Cherry Tree Carol

4’15”

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PEL2104SATB

Solo voice, SATB choir with banjo or guitar, organ and percussion

This traditional English & American (Appalachian) folk song is delightful in the simplicity of its tune and text. For the 2019 performance of "A King's Christmas", Paul Halley created an arrangement for guest singer/narrator "Old Man" (Chris) Ludecke to offer his signature laid-back vocal style, his inimitable banjo playing set against a lovely soundscape of SATB choir and organ. Percussion of shaker and bodhran highlight the folk origins of this beloved song for Christma.
 

Instrumental Parts: Organ, banjo, percussion included in vocal/choral score.

Level: Easy
Video recorded.

The First Nowell
hymn arrangement

4’30”

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PEL5021SATB

SATB and organ, optional brass

The traditional English carol in a lush arrangement for choir and organ with optional congregational participation. (v.1 harmonization by John Stainer.)
                                                             

Full Score and Instrumental Parts: Brass Quintet and Timpani

Level: Moderate
CD What Child Is This?

'Tis Winter Now    

3’00”

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PEL2013SATB

SATB unaccompanied

“Longfellow’s poem is a richly atmospheric text not specifically tied to Christmas, but quite handy for a cold week sometime after Epiphany when a ‘general’ anthem seems to be in need. Global warming may soon put this piece out of business, but until it does, Halley’s setting evokes the frigid air as effectively as anything since Vivaldi’s fourth Season.” - The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians                                                                        

             Level: Moderate
CD What Child Is This?

Verbum Caro Factum Est

6’00”

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PEL2012SATB

SATB unaccompanied

Commissioned by the Williams College Chamber Choir, Wayne Abercrombie, director. The Word made flesh, the mystical with the earthly, is suggested in the antiphonal nature of this work. The rhythmic and worldly immediacy of one choir is answered with the ethereal Alleluias of the other.                                  

Level: Difficult
CD Wondrous Love

Voices of Light

8'00”

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PEL2005SATB
PEL2005SSA

SATB or SSA and organ

Created for Chorus Angelicus, the acclaimed children's choir founded by Paul Halley and Meg Race in 1991, this work forms the title track on the CD "Voices of Light" JN101. A beautiful, musical manifestation of the phrase "God is light and in Him is no darkness", with ethereal harmonies and a dancing, intricate flute line.  A luminous offering for treble or SATB choirs with a sublime feature for a consummate flutist.                                           

             Level: Easy
CD Voices of Light?

Watts’ Cradle Hymn

4’00”

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PEL2055SATB

SATB and organ

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) lovely lyrics are set to a traditional American melody in an arrangement by Paul Halley that is simple, poignant, and hauntingly beautiful.                                            

             Level: Easy
CD What Child Is This?

What Child Is This?

3’30”

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PEL2038SATB

SATB and organ

Created for Gaudeamus, Paul Halley, director. The traditional English melody and William Chatterton Dix’s familiar text are presented in a fresh and dazzling new arrangement, with harmonies that are unmistakably jazz-inspired.                  

             Level: Moderate to Difficult
CD What Child Is This?

A Christmas Peace

PEL2030SSA

3’00”

Click title and see inside.

PEL2030SATB

SSA or SATB and piano, optional organ or strings

A lyrical and poignant arrangement combining ‘America The Beautiful’ with ‘Silent Night’ created in memory of September 11, 2001. A beautiful conclusion to any American Christmas program.
 

Instrumental Part: Organ
Full Score and String Parts

Level: Moderate
PEL1000 Single Track CD

Beannacht Leat, A Mhuire

2’30”

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PEL2054SSA

SSA and organ

A Hymn to the Virgin sung in Irish to a traditional folk melody.  The Soprano 1 melody line floats above a background setting of treble voices, resulting in a new Celtic Christmas favorite.  Created by Paul Halley for Chorus Angelicus on its tour to Ireland 2004.

Level: Moderate
CD What Child Is This?

Huron Carol  

3’00”

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PEL2084SSA

SSA and organ, optional hand bells

Commissioned by the Ottawa Central Choir, Barbara Clark, director. The Native American (Huron) interpretation of Jesus birth and the 16^th century French melody of this carol are placed in a setting of austerity and simple reverence. Optional hand bells further evoke the atmosphere of stark winter.

             Level: Moderate
CD Christmas Angelicus

Voices of Light

8'00”

Click title and see inside.

PEL2005SATB
PEL2005SSA

SATB or SSA and organ

Created for Chorus Angelicus, the acclaimed children's choir founded by Paul Halley and Meg Race in 1991, this work forms the title track on the CD "Voices of Light" JN101. A beautiful, musical manifestation of the phrase "God is light and in Him is no darkness", with ethereal harmonies and a dancing, intricate flute line.  A luminous offering for treble or SATB choirs with a sublime feature for a consummate flutist.                                           

             Level: Easy
CD Voices of Light?