Puer nobis

Robert Edward Smith (b. 1946) has written music for vocal and instrumental ensembles of all sizes ranging from unaccompanied viola to symphony orchestra. He has been Composer in Residence at Trinity College Chapel in Hartford, Connecticut since 1979, and taught harpsichord and continuo realization at the Hartt School, University of Hartford from 1992 to the present. In 2002-2003 he served as Composer in Residence, St. John’s Memorial Chapel at Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

These pieces, taken from his collection, "Hymn Preludes for the Christmas Season", which was published by World Library Publications in 1998, are certainly no exception. My performances follow the composer's registrations "in spirit," but I have used a more "sophisticated" approach in sections.

Puer nobis nascitur, usually translated as Unto Us is Born a Son, is a medieval Christmas carol found in a number of manuscript sources - the 14th-century German Moosburg Gradual and a 15th-century Trier manuscript. The Moosburg Gradual itself contained a number of melodies derived from the 12 and 13th century organum repertories of Notre Dame de Paris and the Abbey of Saint Martial, Limoges, suggesting that its antiquity may be much greater.

This version features only a few stops, in dialogue and combination. The Solo clarinet provides the color, with and against the Great stopped diapason.

A photo of Robert Edward Smith is attached below.

These are the first of my "Christmas uploads". I'll be doing at least one a day through the Epiphany on January 6th. A great variety, including several large-scale English carol-fantasies will be included.

I wish ALL the blessings of the season!