ELIZABETH EKHOLM

by Elizabeth Ekholm

SSAATTBB a cappella  –  CP 2034   – duration 4:15

“Little Jesus Fell Asleep (Before the Song Was Done)” is a magical a cappella setting of the poem “Christmas Carol” by renowned American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933). The piece is set for SATB divisi. The text describes all those who came to the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus – the wealthy and the poor, visitors from earth and from heaven. The music invokes the mystery and the joy of the birth of the Messiah, but also the charm of the little baby who falls asleep in the midst of all the celebration and the angels’ singing.

by Elizabeth Ekholm

SATB a cappella  –  CP 1727   – 6:00

This prayer for peace is commonly attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, which begins “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”  This piece won the 2016 Debbie Fleming Prize for Choral Composition and was premiered by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at their Choral Splendour concert in June, 2017.  The jury commented: “There is a lovely sense of attention to the text and the overall piece is well thought out and executed.  Ekholm uses beautiful, warm harmonic language, inventive transitions and modulations, and has a good melodic sense.”