Product Description
Carl August Peter Cornelius (24 December 1824 26 October 1874) was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator.
From an early age he played the violin and composed, eventually studying with Tekla Griebel-Wandall and composition with Heinrich Esser in 1841.
His early compositions included chamber and church music and secular songs, among which stands the Stabat Mater for soloists, choir, and orchestra, composed in 1849. Cornelius's first mature works (including the opera Der Barbier von Bagdad) were composed during his brief stay in Weimar (18521858).
In Britain to this day, Cornelius's best-known work is "The Three Kings" ("Die Könige"), a song for solo voice and piano originally from his 1856 song cycle, Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs). The song's melody line is accompanied by the chorale tune of "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How brightly shines the morning star"), written by Philipp Nicolai in 1597.
An English translation made in 1928 by H.N. Bate ("Three Kings from Persian lands afar...") was arranged by Ivor Atkins in 1957 for solo voice and choir, and this version was included in the first volume of the popular David Willcocks and Reginald Jacques compilation Carols for Choirs in 1961.
In my version for wind quintet the solo for the verses 1 and 2 is taken by the clarinet, and oboe leads in the 3rd verse.
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