Listen & tracks

10 works · 47:41

1 Carols for Christmas Traditional 3:18
2 Variations pastorales sur un vieux Noël Marcel Samuel-Rousseau 10:32
We Three KingsJohn Henry Hopkins 2 movements4:28
1. 3 We Three Kings [Megan Reeve] 2:23
2. 4 We Three Kings [Verlene Schermer] 2:05
5 We Three Kings / Aquatintes No. 3 John Henry Hopkins [Megan Metheney] 5:27
6 The First Noel / Canon Johann Pachelbel 4:06
7 The Silver Stars are in the Sky William Garnet James 5:25
8 A Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten Interlude 3:36
9 Ave Maria Johann Sebastian Bach 5:38
10 Jesus, Jesus rest your head Traditional 2:16
11 O Come All Ye Faithful Traditional 2:55

Three versions of We Three Kings open different doors on the same tune. Samuel-Rousseau expands a fifteenth-century French carol; Britten’s calm Interlude from A Ceremony of Carols sits near a pairing of The First Noel with Pachelbel’s Canon.

Sarah Beggs (flute) joins on that pairing and on the Bach–Gounod Ave Maria. Jason Reeve’s arrangement of William G. James’s The Silver Stars are in the Sky brings a little-known Australian lullaby into the set, framed by medleys and lively carol arrangements.

In the artist’s words

Merry Christmas! It’s a greeting that has been used by countless people through the ages. But while the essential message of Christmas has remained unchanged through time and across countries, each age and culture has reflected the spirit of Christmas in its own unique way – variations on Christmas.

Throughout the festive season, my hope and prayer is that this music will help you to celebrate both the theme, and the variations of Christmas.

— Megan Reeve

Artists

Megan Reeve

harp

Megan Reeve has performed professionally on the harp for over twenty years. She holds degrees from the University of Melbourne, the Victorian College of the Arts, and Cardiff University, Wales, spanning performance and music’s place in culture and politics.

Johann Sebastian Bach

composer

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque. His sacred and secular music for choir, orchestra, organ and solo instruments remains among the foundations of the Western concert and church repertory.

Benjamin Britten

composer

Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. His operas are firmly established in the international repertoire, and more of them are played worldwide than those of any other composer born in the twentieth century.

Charles Gounod

composer

Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, conductor and organist of the Romantic era. His operas include the enduringly popular Faust, and his sacred and salon pieces remain staples of the repertoire.

William Garnet James

composer

William Garnet James (1892–1977) was an Australian pianist and composer who became a pioneer of music broadcasting as the ABC’s first Director of Music.

Johann Pachelbel

composer

Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706) was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. His chorale preludes, fugues and keyboard variations place him among the central figures of the middle Baroque.