New descants for eighteen Advent and Christmas hymns, written by Ian Shaw.

HOPE

O come, O come Emmanuel

Creator of the stars of night

Hills of the North, rejoice

Hark, what a sound, and too divine for hearing

Gabriel’s message does away

Lo, he comes, with clouds descending

MOTHER AND CHILD

There stood in heaven a linden tree

The God whom earth and sea and sky

From east to west, from shore to shore

Of the Father’s heart begotten

Away in a manger

Once in royal David’s City

ANGELS, SHEPHERDS AND KINGS

O little town of Bethlehem

Hark! the herald angels sing

Shepherds, rejoice! lift up your eyes

Behold the great creator makes

Lord, when the wise men came from far

O come all ye faithful

Ian Shaw was the organ scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, the assistant organist of Durham Cathedral, and the director of music at St Peter’s, Eaton Square, before embarking on a freelance career both in opera and as a composer. These descants are a wonderful combination of brilliant and rigorous writing with grace, gentleness and flow.