Reflections of Black Nativity - Song Index
Song Name	Sheet Music Sample*	Preview Song
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Joy To The World
Oh Jerusalem In The Morning
Jesus Our Lord
Mary Had A Baby I
Mary Had A Baby II
Wasn’t That A Mighty Day
Christ Is Born
Comfort Ye
Go Tell It!
* Requires Adobe Acrobat (free download).

These arrangements represent many of the characteristics of standard renditions of very familiar songs, such as is expressed in Go Tell It On The Mountain and Joy To The World.  And yet there are infusions of contemporary inspiration, if in some cases only through the use of reharmonization or rhythmic variance. In others, the fusion of old and new occur within the vamps ­ or repeated end phrases. The Gospel Shout is represented in Christ is Born with its very fast tempo and syncopated hand clapping. This piece also utilizes the traditional bass line used in Gospel shouts as well as in up-tempo jazz music.

Each of these arrangements is written for SATB. The parts are written on a grand staff: Soprano and Alto on the treble and Bass and Tenor on the bass clef. There is one exception -- Wasn’t That A Mighty Day -- in which the choir parts are written closed voicing SAT on the treble staff.

The piano accompaniments represent many of the stylistic techniques used in gospel music and yet there is the opportunity to learn to improvise beyond the written score. The two main ingredients are given in that the chord symbols are written above the chords and therefore the harmonic rhythm or number of beats spent on a given chord within a measure is outlined. This is important as the pianist can embellish the patterns given by playing inversion of the given chord or octave fills of arpeggiations of the chords, in the spaces of rest from the written part.

The other helpful ingredient for learning to embellish these accompaniments is the reference CD that will offer the opportunity for the pianist to play along with the accompaniment. When playing with the rhythm section - bass and drums - often the pianist uses different chord voicings than when playing solo. This is why I have decided to offer transcriptions of my playing on the reference CD for those readers who would like to explore my piano style.

These arrangements are to be enjoyed and presented as reflections on the musical life and spirit of Gospel music and as a reflection on the Nativity, the Gospel, presented through the eyes of African-Americans, to share with the world the good news.

Sing these songs and share the Christmas Story and Go Tell It!

Keith McCutchen
Composer and Arranger

Also Available:
Individual Octavos of all pieces in songbook $1.50 each
Bass and Drum Parts: $15.00
Reference CD: $15.00

Coming Soon -- Orchestral Arrangements of:
Joy To The World, Mary Had A Baby II, and Wasn’t That A Mighty Day