Away In A Manger (Murray/Maggs)

Martin Luther's well-known Christmas carol has been set atop an accompaniment that brings out the lullaby-like nature of the melody. The first section begins with the hymn tune, harmonized in parallel thirds, gently cradled by a softly rocking ostinato pattern. The next section then moves the melody into the bass clef and lower treble clef, using echoed entrances of the theme to highlight the change, while the accompaniment figure drifts upwards into the higher bells. The selection then reiterates part of the first section, closing as delicately as it began.