A new Christmas Carol with music by Heather Percy and lyrics by Joyce Kilmer. Alfred Joyce Kilmer was an American poet who fought in France during the Great War. He was killed by a sniper’s bullet during the Second Battle of Marne in 1918. Kilmer’s poems have often been described as too sentimental, yet ‘Wartime Christmas’ truly captures both the futility of war as well as what Christmas is about – love and home. Set in the Dorian mode with many interesting harmonic shifts, the lyrical melody is covers a range of just over an octave. There are three verses with subtle melodic and harmonic transgressions in verses 2 and 3. ‘Wartime Christmas’ is set for both unison choir and SA choir. With the many centenary commemorations for the Great War currently taking place ‘Wartime Christmas’ is a timely addition to your Christmas event.