DESCRIPTION:
Composed by Marques L. A. Garrett (me...lol), this Christmas a cappella anthem uses the spiritual "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow" as its theme. I incorporated two other spirituals, "Mary Had a Baby" and "Oh, Mary, What You Gonna Call Yo' Pretty Little Baby". I also decided to use three sets of Latin text because of the wonderful training I have received thus far at UNCG while completing my MM in Choral Conducting. Dedicated to the UNCG Choirs, this song was premiered on Sunday, December 6, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC. (It's a beautiful church with great acoustics. That's why you hear a great ring before the final phrase.)

My eternal gratitude is given to Dr. Welborn Young for choosing my song as the finale of the 2009 UNCG Holiday Choral Concert. I also thank Dr. Carole Ott (my conducting teacher) for conducting the premiere. The combined voices included the following choirs:

Women's Choir, Matt Webb, conductor
Women's Glee Club, Garrett Saake, conductor
Men's Glee Club, James Keith, conductor
Chamber Singers, Dr. Welborn Young, conductor, Justin Hazelgrove, assistant conductor
University Chorale, Dr. Carole Ott, conductor

Enjoy!

Btw, this is my first YouTube video. Thanks, JaVa.

Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit.
(Today Christ is born;
today the Savior has appeared.)

Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem Angelorum.
(Come, O Come to Bethlehem:
See the new-born King of Angels.)

Puer natus est nobis
Puer natus est in Bethlehem,
Hic jacet in praesepio
et vocabitur nomen ejus,
magni consilii Angelus.
(A boy is born to us,
A boy is born in Bethlehem,
Here lies in a manger,
and his name shall be called:
the Angel of great council.)