Away in a manger

There are two well known tunes to this popular Christmas carol. One of them is used mainly in USA the other in England and it is the latter which is used in this arrangement. An eight bar lullaby introduction precedes the first verse which has a quietly murmuring background of eighth notes played in saxophone and bassoon. A bridge passage leads to the second verse which is enhanced by woodwind decoration. The music then modulates to the sub-dominant key for the final tutti fortissimo verse which has a countermelody containing many hints of the most famous of all Christmas carols Silent Night.