Commissioned by Luminescence Children’s Choir together with choirs from Perth, Estonia, and Belgium, Andrew Ford’s new Christmas cycle, I Sing the Birth had its world premiere in Canberra’s Wesley Uniting Church.

Accompanied by Theo Carbo (electric guitar), this new work aims to bring joy to all the children singing it for the first time, and to all the children who sing this work in years to come.

Before the premiere, members of Luminescence Chamber Singers joined Thomas Heywood (organ), Roland Peelman and Valdas Cameron (percussion) to sing of another birth, in Arvo Pärt’s Sarah was 90 Years Old. Composed in 1976, this work served as an entry to Pärt’s Tintinnabuli (bells) compositional style that uses slowly shifting patterns to create a meditative atmosphere.

Valdas Cameron, Michelle Ryan, Dan Walker and Roland Peelman. Photo © Peter Hislop

The slow, low tap of drums got the concert going. The same repeated phrase built gradually before the singers slid in with a rising refrain of aahs; a vocalise. Chant-like it unfolded before the percussionists entered again, with a simple rhythm.

Tenor Dan Walker sang from the sanctuary with baritone Lucien Fischer up in the balcony echoing...