When I Think Back On Christmas
Hymns & Carols
chorus with piano
work detail
instrumentation: unison and piano
completion date: december 2024
duration: 3 minutes
texts: On an original text by the composer
events
A FEAST OF CAROLS
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia - Dominick DiOrio, conductor
St. Paul's Chestnut Hill - Philadelphia, PA
2:00 pm
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia presents their beloved holiday program with organist Andy Kotylo, pianist Ting Ting Wong, and Timberdale Brass at the historic St. Paul's Church in Chestnut Hill. Featuring a new commissioned work by composer Rex Isenberg and carols both traditional and newly written. Performances at 2pm and 5pm.
audio
When I think back on Christmas
dedication
Commissioned by Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) Talian for the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia 2024 Holiday Fundraiser, and dedicated to her mother, Tracy Kaye, and in memory of her grandmother, Mary Gray Kaye, both strong women who inculcated in her a love of music and the arts.
text
When I Think Back On Christmas
When I think back on Christmas, I think back to ballet: The velvet-red of curtains, Tchaikowsky’s relevé, Le Grand divertissement Toy soldiers who jeté. When I think back on Christmas, Your love for art holds sway.
When I think back on Christmas, I think on Chamonix, The alpine hills at twilight Of snow-capped evergreen, A tiny church at Yuletide With stereo technique When I think back on Christmas, Your music speaks to me.
When I think back on Christmas, I think on Grammy’s lake, As children ‘twas her ocean, As Ch’cago’s winds would break, And now with choir in heaven, She sings ‘till rafters quake. When I think back on Christmas, Our love, and I, namesake.
Copyright © 2024 Dominick DiOrio.
information
events
A FEAST OF CAROLS
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia - Dominick DiOrio, conductor
St. Paul's Chestnut Hill - Philadelphia, PA
2:00 pm
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia presents their beloved holiday program with organist Andy Kotylo, pianist Ting Ting Wong, and Timberdale Brass at the historic St. Paul's Church in Chestnut Hill. Featuring a new commissioned work by composer Rex Isenberg and carols both traditional and newly written. Performances at 2pm and 5pm.
audio
When I think back on Christmas
dedication
Commissioned by Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) Talian for the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia 2024 Holiday Fundraiser, and dedicated to her mother, Tracy Kaye, and in memory of her grandmother, Mary Gray Kaye, both strong women who inculcated in her a love of music and the arts.
text
When I Think Back On Christmas
When I think back on Christmas, I think back to ballet: The velvet-red of curtains, Tchaikowsky’s relevé, Le Grand divertissement Toy soldiers who jeté. When I think back on Christmas, Your love for art holds sway.
When I think back on Christmas, I think on Chamonix, The alpine hills at twilight Of snow-capped evergreen, A tiny church at Yuletide With stereo technique When I think back on Christmas, Your music speaks to me.
When I think back on Christmas, I think on Grammy’s lake, As children ‘twas her ocean, As Ch’cago’s winds would break, And now with choir in heaven, She sings ‘till rafters quake. When I think back on Christmas, Our love, and I, namesake.
Copyright © 2024 Dominick DiOrio.
