Fantasy on a French Carol
Arranger Hal Hopson employs differing textures and meters to present the French carol "Il est Ne". An opening section in 2/2 is a lovely passage of original material leading up to the entrance of the carol in the mid-range bells. The next section is in 3/4 and rhythmically alters the original tune through rests and elongated note values. A return to 2/2 finds the melody doubled in the lower octaves while a running commentary of alternating eighth notes runs above.