Music for ChristmasPERUSALSCORE
for violin, cello, and piano
Tina Davidson
PERUSALSCORE
Music for Christmas
for violin, cello, and piano
PERUSALSCORE
Tina Davidson 2011
Music for Christmas
for violin, cello and piano
Program Notes
Music for Christmas, for violin, cello and piano, was arranged and adapted for the members of the Newstead Trio for their 2009 recording of seasonal music. Original music includes Davidson’s tender Behold a Virgin Approaching and jubilant Let There be Joy, which are from her large work, Duan Nollaig, a collection of carols based on ancient Celtic texts. The remaining traditional carols are beautifully reincarnated, brought up-to-date in a simple and lovely fashion.
1. Ave Maria page 4
2. What Child is This? page 10
3. Behold a Virgin Approaching page 18
4. Let There be Joy page 24
5. Away in a Manger page 37
6. Silent Night page 44
Tina Davidson is a highly regarded American composer who creates music that stands out for its emotional depth and lyrical dignity. Lauded for her authentic voice, The New York Times praised her “vivid ear for harmony and colors.” OperaNews called her works "transfigured beauty.” Tina Davidson has been commissioned and performed by well-known ensembles such as National Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, OperaDelaware, VocalEssence, Kronos Quartet, Cassatt Quartet and Grammy Award-winner, Hilary Hahn.
In 2023, her memoir, Let Your Heart Be Broken, Life and Music of a Classical Composer was published by Boyle & Dalton to critical acclaim.
Long-term residencies continue to play a major role in Davidson’s career. She was composer-in-residence at Fleisher Art Memorial (1998-2001) and ran the city-wide Young Composers program, teaching children to compose and perform music their own music. She was composer-in-residence with Opera-Delaware, Newark Symphony Orchestra and the YWCA, as part of Meet The Composer’s innovative "New Residencies" program. During this residency, she wrote the critically acclaimed full-length opera, Billy and Zelda, as well as created community partner programs for women in shelters, and for students in elementary schools.
Davidson’s talents have been recognized through the awarding of a number of grants and fellowships, including the prestigious Pew Fellowship, the largest such grant in the country for which an artist can apply. Her music is available on Albany Records, New World Records, Mikrokosmik, and Opus One. Hilary Hahn released two recordings of the work she commissioned from Davidson, Blue Curve of the Earth on her albums In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores and on Retrospective (Deutsche Grammophon).
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Tina Davidson grew up in Oneonta, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. She received her BA in piano and composition from Bennington College in 1976 where she studied with Henry Brant, Louis Calabro, Vivian Fine and Lionel Nowak. She currently lives in Lancaster PA.
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For more information, please contact: BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON MUSIC Web Page: www.tinadavidson.com
1. Ave Maria on the Prelude of J. S. Bach
C. Gounod (1818-1893) arr. Tina Davidson © 2009, Tina Davidson (Beyond the Blue Horizon Music, BMI) Published by
Music for Christmas, Tina Davidson
2. What Child Is This?
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3. Behold the Virgin Approaching
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4. Let There be Joy!
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5. Away in a Manger
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