Shepherd's Carol, The
Commissioned for a 12th Night Bell festival this setting of SHILOH by William Billings is from the 1786 Suffolk Harmony music book. The first section is marked "Joyfully" and contains dancing rhythms in staccato technique. This leads to a "Lilting" section with mallets on suspended bells. The excitement returns in the following section with Thumb damps and martellatos. A tender section in 6/8 follows and returns to the opening feel to round out the 130 measures.