Quempas (Quem pastores laudavere)

The so-called Quempas is based on three Christmas carols from the 15th century: Quem pastores laudavere, Nunc angelorum gloria and Resonet in laudibus.

In the Ore Mountains (Saxony, Germany), the tradition has been preserved for centuries until today that in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services the Quempas is sung by four children's choirs located in the four corners (or ends) of the church. The choirmaster of the Dresdner Kreuzchor (boy's choir of the Church of the Holy Cross in Dresden) Rudolf Mauersberger brought this tradition down in the Elbe river valley.

In this arrangement of Paul Manz I have tried to recreate this “surround singing” by playing each chorale line of the Quempas with a solo register out of almost each division.

For a further look how the Quempas sounds in "real": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRNwHsqE9rk