O Sanctissima!
O du fröhliche

”O how joyfully” (O du fröhliche) is one of the most famous German Christmas songs. More than most other songs it grandly conveys the heartfelt joy and gratitude for the birth of Jesus Christ. Markus Götz composed “O Sanctissima!”, a festive holiday piece on this famous melody in the baroque style of George Frideric Handel. The continuous bassline (basso continuo) is characteristic for baroque compositions. Furthermore, Markus Götz added a few musical features that allow for a wide range of performances: An optional piccolo trumpet part lends even more elegance to the music. A simplified melody part, enclosed in different transpositions, enables beginning musicians to play along. “O Sanctissima!” also allows for performances with choir or congregational singing (in one or two parts); the choir part is included in the set. With a wink Markus Götz integrated musical quotes from other Christmas favorites, including fragments of Handel’s “Halleluja”, “Joy to the World” and “Fröhliche Weihnacht überall”, which he skillfully combines with the melody of “O how joyfully”.

The set includes
- piccolo trumpet part in Bb (optional)
- simplified melody part in different transpositions (optional)
- choir part for vocals in one or two parts (optional)