Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels We Have Heard on High, a popular Christmas song, is likely a traditional French carol. The lyrics refer to the Gospel of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ. In that rendition, shepherds note that the newborn child is surrounded by a chorus of angels. The chorus of “Angels We Have Heard on High” features a memorable cascading effect of notes on the text “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” Latin for “Glory to God in the highest.” In this setting of the popular Christmas favorite, the melodic material has been carefully arranged for four saxophones (SATBar) by Bill Perconti.