Christmas Carols
In 2008 I was appointed as the first Composer in Residence with RTÉ lyric fm and that year composed Curoo Curoo for lyric’s annual Choirs for Christmas competition. A total of 3 carols have now been commissioned and every year they enjoy many performances worldwide. They are all published, recorded and available for purchase.
for 2-part treble choir and piano
Dur. 3’
Commissioned by RTÉ lyric fm and broadcast during RTÉ lyric fm’s 2008 Choirs for Christmas competition.
18th Century Traditional Christmas Text.
Curoo Curoo (2008)
Curoo Curoo has been performed by many choirs and ensembles including Melisma, Cór na nÓg with Máirtin O’Connor and Garry O’Briaín and the Cavan Sinfonia and broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and RTÉ lyric fm. It was released on Be All Merry by the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Other releases included UNITY - May they all be one featuring Cappella Caeciliana and on lyric fm’s CD Choirs for Christmas featuring New Dublin Voices and RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Further afield, there were two USA performances in December 2024 by Californian girls choir iSing and the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland.
“I’ve had Curoo Curoo on the brain all weekend - it’s a wonderful setting and the New Dublin Voices sang it beautifully! Elaine is such a remarkable composer - she has that incredible ability of writing challenging and sophisticated, but approachable and rewarding, music for kids. I don’t think I’ve come across another composer that can do it quite like that since Britten!”
“A contemporary, and unmistakably Irish, take on the Christmas tradition...the (Choral) Scholars (of University College Dublin) achieve a beautifully delicate, almost vulnerable sound in Elaine Agnew’s Curoo Curoo.”
for 2-part choir and piano (with optional triangle)
Dur. 2’
Commissioned by RTÉ lyric fm and broadcast during RTÉ lyric fm’s 2011 Choirs for Christmas competition.
Poem by Gabriel Fitzmaurice.
Christmas Day (2011)
Christmas Day beautifully captures the the magical essence of Christmas from the perspective of a young child “If you don’t like the snow you're old!” The vocal lines are specifically titled Tutti unison, Part 1 and Part 2 as this is intended for voices of any age and range, male or female. The music is energetic and the optional triangle part adds to the vitality.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching all of Elaine’s Christmas works with various groups with all becoming seasonal ‘favourites’ within each group be it children, youth, adults or intergenerational. My lasting memory each year when we begin our Christmas repertoire is the reaction of the young singers in Cór na nÓg and Aspiro when, without telling them what we are doing next, they suddenly hear the opening piano bars of Christmas Day and immediately there is a resounding ‘YES’ reverberated throughout the room as they realise what they are about to sing. Christmas Day in particular has become an all-time favourite for younger singers evoking lovely childhood memories that we all cherish no matter what age we are.”
Christmas Day has been performed by many choirs and ensembles including Cór na nÓg with the Contempo Quartet, Aspiro and the Carlow Army No.1 Band, Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir and frequently broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm. It was released on lyric fm’s CD Choirs for Christmas featuring Cór na nÓg and RTÉ Concert Orchestra as well as a live RTÉ 1 TV broadcast in December 2013 as part of ‘Service on Sunday’.
Versions available for Choir with orchestra / string quartet & piano / brass & wind band
for unison choir and piano
Dur. 2’30”
Commissioned by RTÉ lyric fm and broadcast during RTÉ lyric fm’s 2015 Choirs for Christmas competition.
Poem by Gabriel Fitzmaurice.
Child Within (2015)
Familiar aspects of Christmas time at home, such as the fireside and the tree, are used by Irish poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice, poignantly connecting the Nativity to our present-day traditions. The innocence and wonder of the text is perfectly captured in this captivating setting for unison voices and piano. The rippling piano part and ethereal melodies have a reflective, nostalgic and perhaps even comforting effect. A standalone piece that is suitable for children’s, church and adult equal-voice choirs.
Child Within has been performed by many choirs and ensembles including Kilgarry NS Choir, Jubilate! Chamber Choir, Dublin Youth Choir, RTÉ Cór na nÓg with Máirtin O’Connor and Garry O’Briaín, Melisma, Aspiro, Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir and frequently broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm and released on the CD UNITY - May they all be one featuring Cappella Caeciliana.
Version available for soprano, horn, cello and harp