Diana Hamilton: Christmas Bells [download]

Composed for the Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition run by The Bach Choir, and short-listed by the judges, David Hill, Jonathan Willcocks and Bob Chilcott, this is a setting of a poem by Henry

Wadsworth Longfellow, in which the poet contrasts the chiming of the Christmas bells declaring “Peace on earth, goodwill to men”, with the realities in his world – the American Civil War.

Setting these words in November 2023, the sentiments resonated in my mind with events in our world today, especially this verse:

And in despair I bowed my head:

“There is no peace on earth”, I said,

“For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men”

By the end, however, there is a feeling of confidence.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

In setting Longfellow’s words, I was aiming to compose something accessible to community choirs,

and had The Arran Singers, whom I conduct, very much in mind.