"If Ye Would Hear" is an arrangement composed in September 2009 for The Orlando Chorale. A Dutch carol melody from 1539 with lyrics by the wonderful 19th century English poet, Dora Greenwell, eaah verse moves between a joyful melody relishing the wealth of a warm, fed family and sad tones that call us to reach out to those less fortunate.  A well known carol, but a new discovery for me while paging through the trusty ol' Oxford Book of Carols by Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Martin Shaw. 

I considered writing a completely new work, but thought of my own family's desire to enjoy the well established melodies of the season. Most of the best loved Christmas melodies demonstrate qualities found in folk music: memorable, strong and singable. Those aspects can only be developed over time through the folk process. Thinking that other families would have similar feelings about a Christmas Concert, I decided to re-set an established tune rather than make one up with new words. I wanted to give a feeling of joy and tradition through music. I also wanted this work to be approachable and fun to sing and drawn to the challenge of creating an arrangement that suited my tastes.

The joyful melody was kept intact but the reflective answers were augmented through longer note durations. The harmonic language of the carol was extended, the tonal ambiguity of which I used to visit near key areas. The piano part rarely doubles the choir and employs with a lively bass and chime-like high register colors. Each of the four voice registers are asked to split into two parts in several sections.

The Orlando Chorale premiered the original version of this work, in the key of F, on December 9th, 2009 at the First Methodist Church in downtown Orlando. I learned a great deal from weaknesses with this work and created a revision in Eb in November 2009 that corrected many of the weaker voicings and and strengthened hard to sing areas. I took a closer look at the alto part, which proved too difficult for the section to comfortably manage.

I am indebted to Mr. Gregory Ruffer, Director of the Orlando Chorale for requesting and programming this work; Greg LeFils, who energetically rehearsed and conducted the song, and to LeDean Williams, who brilliantly performed the piano accompaniment.

• If Ye Would Hear (original version in F)