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Synopsis
for upper voices, SATB, and harp
My Perfect Stranger is a captivating setting of Kevin Crossley-Holland's retelling of the Christmas story. Following an expectant prologue, the central movement is rich in characterization as soloists from within the choir take on the roles of key players in the narrative, with the upper voices adopting the role of the guiding star, as well as enriching the texture at important moments in the story. Beginning with the harp ostinato of the prologue, the epilogue asks the listener to
reflect on the story we have heard, challenging us to consider the part we might have played and asking 'what have you to say and sing?'. The work's vibrant part for harp makes for a compelling alternative to the more conventional keyboard accompaniment.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
The treble choir has an active role throughout, singing with the full chorus or contributing sections on their own. The third movement epilogue returns to the atmosphere of the opening with beautiful poetic rumination on the meaning of the Nativity. The roughly twelve-minute length would make an excellent prelude for Christmas Eve or centrepiece for a concert. The obvious pairing with Britten's A Ceremony of Carols offers even more programming opportunities. * Jason Overall, Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, November 19 * My Perfect Stranger is a 12-minute "mini-drama" for harp (though piano can be substituted), upper voices (1-2 parts) and a separate mixed choir, setting a vivid text by Kevin Crossley-Holland that allows the introduction of three wise men (TBB) into the musical texture as well as other dramatis personae. * Geoffrey Webber, Choir & Organ, September 2017 * My Perfect Stranger is far from a conventional Christmas piece but it's a most interesting way of telling the Christmas story and I hope that choirs will take it up as an enterprising alternative to the standard carol concert fare. * John Quinn, musicweb-international.com, October 2017 *