BEVERLY LEWIS

by  Beverly Lewis

SATB a cappella (with divisi)    –   CP 1728   – 3:45  
Offering at the Manger tells the inspiring fictional story of an elderly woman who takes a homemade pie as a gift to the infant Jesus. Upon presenting her gift, she becomes the object of some derision from the more affluent gift givers. She leaves the stable feeling embarrassed when, suddenly, she is visited by an angel. The angel assures the woman that, of all the material gifts anyone could offer the Christ child, the grea gift is love. The poem consists of six verses using varying voicings and gradually building in intensity until the final verse ends with the musical climax as the universal message of love is delivered. 
The piece presents a simple melody which is harmonized in various ways within the different verses. It is accompanied by piano or organ and has a flute obligato during the last verse, which, if required, could be played on most C-instruments. 
Offering at the Manger was the winner of the Amadeus Choir Christmas Carol Competition 1992 in the category of Adult (Unpublished) SATB with Keyboard Accompaniment and was performed by the Amadeus Choir during the same year, under the direction of its conductor, Lydia Adams. The piece has been recorded by the Amadeus Choir (CD: Ring-a the News, 1994) and by the Mount Allison Chamber Choir (CD: Christmas at Mount Allison Chapel, 1995), conducted by Dr. Willis Noble. It has also been performed by other choirs across Canada and in Germany

by  Beverly Lewis

SATB a cappella (with divisi)  –   CP 1730   – 3:45  
This Endris Night is a carol based on anonymous poem dating back to the fifteenth century. The text, consisting of six verses, is a dialogue between the mother Mary and the infant Jesus. Each verse has been given a slightly different harmonic treatment.  A challenging piece, it features an unpredictable melodic direction and frequent meter changes. This Endris Night was the (tied) winner of the Amadeus Choir Christmas Carol Competition 1993 in the category of SATB with keyboard (Published Composer). It was performed in Toronto by the Amadeus Choir in Toronto during the same year, under the direction of its conductor, Lydia Adams.