about the composition 

Two December Carols (2005), for SATB choir with piano or harp, was commissioned in honor of Carsten Slostad's thirty years as conductor of the Wells Fargo Chorus, a volunteer employee chorus based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Movement I, "Snowflake Song," features text by Joyce Kennedy of Bloomington, Minnesota; movement II, "Wisdom," features text by Shannon King of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The music was composed by Carl Schroeder of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The movements may be performed together as a set or individually. Movement I, "Snowflake Song," is 2.5 minutes in duration and is best suited for secular performance settings. Movement II, "Wisdom," is 3 minutes in duration and can be performed in both sacred and secular settings.

Movement I, "Snowflake Song," has also been arranged by the composer for SSA choir with piano, and both movements have been adapted for solo piano.

about the composer

Carl Schroeder (b. 1982) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a graduate of St. Olaf College, writes music for concert band, orchestra, choir, chamber ensembles and piano that often draws inspiration from American history and current events. His large ensemble works have been performed by more than 30 concert bands, orchestras and choirs, including the Air Force Band of Mid-America and Ukraine's Chamber Choir Kyiv.

Schroeder has studied composition primarily with Timothy Mahr and Peter Hamlin, and has also taken lessons with composers Mark Camphouse, Donald Grantham and Dana Wilson. In 2001, he was named "Composer with Most Potential" by the Minnesota Music Educators Association, and in 2004 he was one of three under-25 American composers chosen to participate in the National Band Association’s Young Composer Mentor Project. In 2006 his choral work Two December Carols received the ERM Media Masterworks Prize. He composed Two December Carols in summer 2005 and arranged "Snowflake Song," the first movement, for accompanied SSA choir in fall 2005.

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more on Two December Carols

AWARDS & HONORS
Recipient, 2006 ERM Media Masterworks Prize

CONCERT PERFORMANCES accompanied SATB choir version unless otherwise noted
Dec. 11, 2005: Wells Fargo Chorus, 3M Sounds of Harmony, St. Paul Travelers Choir; Carsten Slostad, conductor - St. Paul, MN premiere
Dec. 12, 2005: Wells Fargo Chorus; Carsten Slostad, conductor - Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 13, 2005: Wells Fargo Chorus; Carsten Slostad, conductor - Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 14, 2005: Wells Fargo Chorus; Carsten Slostad, conductor - Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 15, 2005: St. Paul Travelers Choir; Chris Westermeyer, conductor - St. Paul, MN
Dec. 16, 2005: Wells Fargo Chorus; Carsten Slostad, conductor - St. Paul, MN
Jan. 6, 2006: Seven Gifts; Carsten Slostad, conductor - St. Paul, MN premiere ("Snowflake Song" SSA arrangement)
June 25, 2006: Carl Schroeder - Minneapolis, MN premiere ("Wisdom" piano arrangement)
Dec. 6, 2006: Students of Carol Dahlen - Minneapolis, MN ("Snowflake Song" and "Wisdom" piano arrangements)
Dec. 8, 2006: Carolyn Albert - Minneapolis, MN ("Wisdom" accompaniment only)
Feb. 8, 2009: Christ the King Church Choir, Moya McGinn Mathews, conductor - Minneapolis, MN ("Snowflake Song" only)

RADIO BROADCASTS
Dec. 6, 2006: Classical Discoveries (Marvin Rosen, host; WPRB 103.3FM, Princeton, NJ) - Chamber Choir Kyiv; Robert Ian Winstin, conductor
Dec. 11, 2006: Midday Music (Sarah Zaslaw, host; WSVH 91.1FM, Savannah, GA) - Chamber Choir Kyiv; Robert Ian Winstin, conductor
Dec. 21, 2006: Classical Music with Steve Staruch (Steve Staruch, host; KSJN 99.5FM, Minneapolis/St. Paul) - Chamber Choir Kyiv; Robert Ian Winstin, conductor ("Snowflake Song" only)
Dec. 23, 2006: Classical Music with Alison Young (Alison Young, host; KSJN 99.5FM, Minneapolis/St. Paul) - Chamber Choir Kyiv; Robert Ian Winstin, conductor

RECORDINGS
Holidays of the New Era - Chamber Choir Kyiv; Robert Ian Winstin, conductor
88 Keys: Piano Music by Carl Schroeder  - Carl Schroeder (solo piano arrangement)