The Winter's Brightening by Donna Deam
This charming carol was a finalist in the BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition 2022.
Niall Campbell’s short and simple poem immediately conjures up a mood of winter, cosiness, warmth, love and hope. This could be used for Christmas or in The New Year. The simple tune with some lush harmonies is straight-forward with the melody moving between voices and finally building to a climax before a gentle ending.
For flexible use, this carol comes arranged for both SATB or 2 Part Upper Voices with either piano or organ accompaniment.
Donna Deam was born and raised in the USA, playing piano from an early age and in multiple musical groups in high school from choirs, to jazz band to marching band and rock groups. She gained her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Degrees from Northwestern University in Chicago in Organ and Church Music and worked as an organist/choir director in the Chicago area, with a special interest in the English Choral Tradition. A keen interest in the early music movement in England with period instruments, Baroque performance practice and the use of lighter voices lead to a chance meeting with Dame Emma Kirkby in Chicago and the decision to come to England for singing lessons with Jessica Cash. Donna quickly established a professional freelance singing career, dividing her time between solo, consort and ensemble work in Britain and abroad. She has had a long career performing with many of the leading British choirs and early music groups including The Cambridge Singers, The Monteverdi Choir, The Sixteen, The Gabrieli Consort, The Hilliard Ensemble, The Academy of Ancient Music, and The English Chamber Orchestra, performing in venues and festivals world-wide. Donna is an experienced teacher of piano and singing with a love of working with young boys and girls’ voices, often arranging things specially for her pupils.
Donna has always been drawn to choral music for worship and entered the BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition in 2022 and was selected as one of the 6 finalists with her setting of The Winter’s Brightening.
