The Big Book

of Christmas Carols
for String Quartet,
Volume I

Angels We Have Heard on High

(The Westminster Carol)

Allegro q = 120

# 4

4 J
Violin I &
mf

# 4
& 4

Violin II

mf

B # 44

Viola

Traditional French

j 1
J

# n

mf
Violoncello

? # 4

4
mf

10 2
#
Vln. I &

#
& #

<n>

Vla.

B #

Vc.

?#

Vln. II

1.

#
& <n>

Vla.

B#

Vc.

?#

Vln. II

#
j

# n

<n>

17

#
Vln. I &

2.
U
w

# n w

U
w
U
w

<n>

U
w

Away in a Manger (1)

Moderato q=120

(German Version)

# 3 j
4

Violin I &
J
mp
# 3 j
4
j
Violin II &
mp
# 3 -
Viola B
4
- J
mp
- -
-
-
3
?
#

-
Violoncello
4
mp
9
5
# j

Vln. I &
J
# j
j
Vln. II &

# -
-
Vla. B
- J
- -
-
? # -
-
Vc.
-

3
Carl Mueller

4
j

- -

- -

1.


J

j
- -

2. U

-
- -

- -

-
- -

- -

b
b
b

Away in a Manger (2)

Moderato

3
Violin I & b 4

p
B b 43

3
& b 4

Violin II

Viola

Traditional English

(British Version)

p
Violoncello

? 3
b 4
p

9 7
b

Vln. I &

&b

Vla.

Bb

Vc.

?b

Vln. II

1.

2. U

Away in a Manger (3)

(American Version, based on "Flow Gently Sweet Afton")

Traditional English

Moderato

# 3
4
Violin I &

p
# 3
4
Violin II &
p

B # 43

Viola

p
Violoncello

? # 3
4

9
8
#

Vln. I &

#
Vln. II &

#

Vla. B

Vc.

?#

U

U

U

1.

2. U

#C
#C

#C

#C

The Boar's Head Carol

Allegro

- - #
# C

j 23 j w
Violin I &
J
mf

# C
j j 23
Violin II &
- mf
# C
j
j3
Viola B
- - 2 -
mf
? # C - - # nj 3
Violoncello
2

j
- # w
j
- w
j w

Trad. English

9
C # - j 23

C j 23
-
C j 23
-
C #- n-j 23

mf

#3
j j w
Vln. I & 2
- -

10- C J #

j U
3
w
2

#
##

j
- - #
f
C - - #
J

U
3
2 # j w
U
3
2 w

#
##

C - - #
J

3
2

U
w

###

#3
& 2
B # 23
-

j
- #
j
Vla.
-
j
? #3
Vc.

Vln. II

###

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Traditional French

11
j - - j

J
j
- j
- - j j j j
- - - J j j
- mf
# 6 J -
- -
?
#
j - -
#

Vc.

J
J
Andantino q. = 63

### 6 j
8 J
Vln. I &
mf
### 6
j
8 - - j j j
Vln. II &
- - - mf
# # 6
Vla. B # 8 J

mf

8
12
### - - .
9

Vln. I &
8
J J
p
mf

###
j
9

Vln. II &
. 8
p
mf
#
#
.
9
Vla. B #
8
J
p
mf
? ### - - . 9
Vc.
8
J J

mf

. 6
J J 8
p
j j 6
. 8
p
. 6

J J 8

1.

J
mf

mf

j
-

, 2. U

,

,

J
p
mf
,
. 6 - -
J J 8
J

mf

bb
bb

bb

bb

Carol of the Bells

b3
Violin I & b 4

13

Allegro con moto q = 180

Traditional Ukrainian

p
Violin II

Viola

b3
&b 4

>

B bb 43
p

Violoncello

? b3
b4

>

>

>

14
15
9
bb

Vln. I &
mp

b
&b
>
p
>
B bb

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

? bb

>
>

>
>

>

mp

>

mp

mp

17
17 16
bb
Vln. I &

mf

b
&b

Vln. II

mf

B bb

Vla.

f
? bb
mf

mf

Vc.

19
25 18
bb
n#

Vln. I &

mp

mf

b
& b

Vln. II

n #

n #

mf

B bb

Vla.

mp

mp

mf

Vc.

?b
b

mf

33

?b
Vc. b

41

Vln. II

b
&b

b
& b

p

B bb

b
Vln. I & b

20

# 3
4

# 3
4

# 3
4

pp

pp

B bb

Vla.

pp
Vc.

? bb

2.

Vla.

mp

bb 1.
Vln. I &

Vln. II

pp

# 3
4

Come, All Ye Shepherds

10

Trad. Bohemian

21
j

Allegro

# 3
4

Violin I &
mf

# 3
& 4
mf

B # 43

Violin II

Viola

mf

Violoncello

? # 3
4
mf

#
Vln. I &
Vln. II

#
&

Vla.

B#

?#

22
1.
, 2. U

mp
mf
,
U

mp
mf
,
U

mp

Vc.

mf

mf

U
,

#
#
#
#

Deck the Hall

Allegretto h = 100

# C

Violin I &

mf

#
& C

Violin II

.
J

j
.

mf

B # C

Viola

mf
Violoncello

? # C

.
J
.
J

mf

. . . .

mp

. . . .

mp

. . . .

- -

mf

mp

. . . .

Vln. II

mf

j
- -

mf

mf

- -
J

- -
J

- -
J

mf

mp

&

. . . . .j
mp
# . . . . .
Vla. B

J
mp
? # . . . . j
Vc.
.

ff

B # # n

. . . .
Vla.
J
ff
mf
. . . .

?
#

Vc.
J
mf

.
J
.
J

. .
. #.
mp

. .
. .

mp

. . . .
mp

. . . .

mf

, 25
<n> . . . .
J
mf
ff
,
j

. . . .
mf

j
.

mf

24
j
. . . . .

J

#
&

12

j
.
.
J
j
.

.
J

mf

mp

#
Vln. I &

23

j
.

mp

#
Vln. I &
Vln. II

11
Traditional English

ff

mp
1.

.
J
j
.
.
J
.
J

2.
U

##

U

U

##

##
##

Echo Carol

12

Allegro

## 2
j
4

Violin I &

mf
Violin II

B ## 42
mf

Violoncello

? # 2
# 4
mf

11

##
Vln. I &
J
pp
## j
Vln. II &

pp
## j
B
Vla.
#
pp

26
j

# 2
& # 4
mf

Viola

Trad. German

27
- -
J
J
f
j j
- -
f
j j
- - #
f

- j

J
f

28
29
30
1.
2.

U

# #

pp
f

f
pp
f

pp

pp

U

pp
U

pp

## 3
4
## 3
4

pp

U



?
#

Vc.

J
pp

## 3
4

pp

## 3
4

The First Noel

13
Trad. French

Allegro

## 3

& 4 j
mf
## 3
4
Violin II &



mf
#
3

Viola B # 4
Violin I

mf

Violoncello

? # 3
# 4

mf

##
Vln. I &

31
j

#
&#

Vla.

B ##

Vc.

?#
#

Vln. II

f
Vc.

18 32
##
Vln. I &
j
f
##
Vln. II &

f
#

Vla. B #

? ##

1.

2. U

bb

bb

bb

bb

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

14

Vivace q = 180

b 4

Vln. I & b 4

Traditional English

33

mf
Vln. II

b 4
& b 4 # <n> # #

# <n> #

B bb 44

mf

Vla.

mf

? b 4
Vc. b 4

mf

b
Vln. I & b

34

35

f
Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

b
& b #
B bb
?b
b

<n> b #

<b>

14

b

Vln. I & b

n <n> <n>

1.
36

2. U

Vln. II

b
& b #

Vla.

B bb

Vc.

?b
b

n <n>

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

(In Dulci Jubilo)

Allegro q = 112

6 j
j
J - - j
Violin I & b 8
J - J
- mf

6
j
& b 8 j
- -
mf
j
j
6

Viola B b 8
- mf
- - -
6
?

Violoncello b 8 J
J
Violin II

j j
j
- j
j
j
- -
J
J

j
- -
j
j
- -
- - - -
J
J

>

>

>
>

Vln. I & b
-

j
-

Vln. II

& b -

j
-

Vla.

B b -

-
J

j
j

j
-
j

j
- -

j -

-
J

?
b -

37
J j
J
>
f
j
j j
- - j
>
f
j
j
j
J
>
f
>
j
j J

J
J

mf

Vc.

15
Traditional German

38
-

-
J

j
-

j
-

j
-
j

j
-

j
-

j

j

j
-

mf

mf

mf

-
J
j
-

j
- -

mf
13

Vln. I & b

& b -

Vla.

Bb

j
-
j

Vc.

? b -

-
J

Vln. II

39
-

f
-
f

j
- j
j
-
J

j
-

ff

# j

j
-

-
J

ff

ff

bb

bb

J
j

j
-
j


J

2.

j
-

ff

1.

j
-
-

bb
bb

Good King Wenceslas

16

40

Alegretto h = 100

Violin I & b C

Traditional English

mf
Violin II

b
& b C
mf

Viola

B bb C
mf

Violoncello

? b C
b

mf

b
Vln. I & b

41

f
Vln. II

Vla.

b
&b

B bb

?b
Vc. b
13 42
bb
Vln. I &

1.

Vln. II

b
&b

Vla.

B bb

?b

Vc. b

, 2. U
w

###

U
w

###

U
w

###

U
w

###

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Allegro Maestoso q = 120

### 4
4
Violin I &
mf
### 4
4
Violin II &

mf
# # 4

Viola B # 4

- -
j

-
J
j

17

43

-

Felix Mendelssohn

j

j
- #
j

mf
Violoncello

? ### 4

mf

44
45

j
#

###
Vln. I &
##
&#

Vln. II

B ###

Vla.

Vc.

? ### #

14

###
Vln. I &
Vln. II

###
#
&
B ###

46-
J
ff

- -
Vla.
J
# - -J
?
#
#
Vc.

j
- - # #
ff

- -
J

ff

- -

ff

j 1.
2. - U

-
U
j

- -

- - - - U

J
-
J - - U

##
##
##
##

Here We Come A-Wassailing

18

Traditional English

47
j
j j j j j - - j j
j j C
- - - - - - - - J-- - - - - -

Allegro q. = 100

## 6
8 j
Violin I &
J - - ## 6 mf
8 j
Violin II &
j

- - ## 6 j mf
B
Viola
8
mf
6
?
#
# 8 J -
Violoncello
mf

48
##
Vln. I & C
f
##
Vln. II & C
f
#
Vla. B # C
f
? ## C -
Vc.

j
j j
- - j
- - j
-

j
j j
- - - - - - j
j j
- - - - - - -

j
j j
j
j
- - - - - - - - -j j
j
j
j
j j
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - - -j J J J J
J J J - -j -

L'istesso Tempo h = 100

49
-

-
-

15

1.

##
Vln. I &

##
Vln. II &
-
#
Vla. B #

j

j
-
j

? ## -

-
J

Vc.

C
j
-
j
C
-
j
- C

2.
U

bb
bb
bb
bb

Huron Indian Carol: Jesos Ahatonhia

19

('Twas In the Moon of Wintertime, When All the Birds Had Fled)
Canadian Huron Indian/French Missionary

Moderato q=88

50
j

. .

. .

. .

. .

b 2

Violin I & b 4 j

b2
& b 4 j

B bb 42 J

? b2
b 4 p

. .

mp

Violin II

mp

Viola

mp

Violoncello

b
Vln. I & b

. .

51
52

J
- -

mf
Vln. II

Vla.

b
&b

B bb

mf

- -

- J

mf
Vc.

?b
b -

. . - . . mp
-

. . -

14

b
Vln. I & b

Vln. II

Vla.

b
&b

B bb

. . -

. . -

1.

mf

2.

. .
bbb 44

mp

bbb 44

j

mp

bbb 44

. . - . . - . .
- . . -

4
bbb 4

. .

mp
Vc.

?b
b -

. . - . . - . . -

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

20

Jean Baptiste Calkin

Moderato

b 4
Violin I & b b 4

mf-f-f-ff
(v. 1-4)

Violin II

b 4
& b b 4
B bbb 44

Violoncello

Vla.

-
?
b
Vc. b b

j
-

j
n

j
-

- n
J

n #
J

<b>

53
5
bb
j
<b>
Vln. I & b
b
&b b
B bbb -

j
n

# j

mf-f-f-ff
(v. 1-4)

Vln. II

j
- #

mfffff
(v. 1-4)

? b 4
b b 4

mf-f-f-ff
(v. 1-4)

Viola

j
#

j
-
-
J

-
J

<n>j
n -
-
-

j
<n> -
j
- n
-
J

1.

jU

U
j
jU
<b>

jU
-

2.

-
J
-
J

# 6
8

jU

U
j
jU
<b>

jU
-

# 6
8

# 6
8
# 6
8

I Saw Three Ships

21
Traditional English

Allegro q.=90

# 6
8 j
Violin I &
mf
# 6 j
8
Violin II &

mf

Viola

B # 68 J

Violoncello

? # 6
8 J

mf

j
-

j
- j
-

j
j

- -
J

-
J

j
-
J

-
J
j
j
-
J

j
-

-
J
j
j

-
J

j

-

j
-

j
j
-
J

j

-

mf

5 54
#
Vln. I &
#
Vln. II &

#
Vla. B

Vc.

? # -

j
-

j
-

-
J

j
-

j

j

-
J

-
J
-
J

1.

2.

# 3
4
# 3
4

# 3
4

# 3
4

In a Manger He Is Lying

22

Traditional Polish

Moderato q=88

55

# 3
4
Violin I &
mp
# 3
4
Violin II &
mp

B # 43

Viola

mp

Violoncello

? # 3
4
mp

#

Vln. I &

56

mf

Vln. II

&

-
mf

Vla.

B#

mf

?#
Vc.
12

#
Vln. I &
Vln. II

&

57

B#

Vc.

?#

mf

1.

2. U

f
Vla.

bbb

bbb

bbb

bbb

Infant So Gentle
Moderato

b 3
J
Violin I & b b 4
p

Violin II

b 3
& b b 4
p

Viola

B bbb 43 j
p

Violoncello

? bb 3 J
b4

23

Traditional Gascon

58
J

9
59
bb
Vln. I & b

60
1.
U
J
U j
b
Vln. II & b b

U j
b
B

Vla.
b

U
?

Vc. b b

2. U

U

bb

bb

bb
bb

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

24

Moderato
b 6 j j
j j
Violin I & b 8
- mp dolce
b 6
j
j
j
j
Violin II & b 8 j
- - - - - p
j
j
b 6 j
j
Viola B b 8 #
j p
j
j
? b 6 j
j j
Violoncello b 8

- -- - -

- 61
j
j

j j

- j
- nj
- - -
-

b
Vln. I & b
-

Vla.

b
&b
B bb

Vc.

? bb

Vln. II

j
- -

j
- -

j
-

J
-
j
J

62

mf

j n #

-

j
j
-
j
j
# mf
j
-
J J

j
mf

mf

12

b
Vln. I & b

Richard S. Willis

j
j
- j
j
- j #j
j
j
- J
- -

j
j
#
-

J
j
j
j
-

63

1.
j
j
j j
j
- - - - -

j
j
j

j
j
j j
j
- j - -

-
j
j
- n

-
-

j
- -

j
-

2.

mp

Vln. II

b
& b

Vla.

B bb

j j - p
j
#j
p

Vc.

? b
b

j
J - - p

j
j
- j
j
j
- j -

j
j
j
-
- - -
j

- J

-
- j -
J
J