Table Top Canon Christmas Carol

in the shape of a cross 
presumed to be written by George Lloyd

The composer’s nephew and executor William Lloyd has discovered among George Lloyd’s papers a most unusual Christmas Carol, written in the form of a ‘table top double canon’ combined so that the sheet music is in the shape of a cross. It is intended to be performed by four singers standing or sitting in a square, sharing  one copy of the music, each singer reading a line as normal, from left to right. The melodic lines are each only seven bars long, but are reversible, so that although the singers start at opposite ends of a line, the result has harmonic integrity. The 7 bar piece is simply repeated as often as required. Since the manuscript is in George Lloyd’s own hand it could be that he composed the piece, but any evidence to the contrary will be welcome.  No other example of a tabletop canon in the shape of a cross is known to us, although Bach, Mozart, Webern and many other composers turned their attention to similar party tricks.

George Lloyd's manuscript has been set in SIBELIUS notation software by Alex Silverman, - a notable feat in itself.... Thank you Alex.

 If you would like a free PDF copy by email, (A3 size) please use the Contact Us form, (Top Right.) Enter your email address and tick the box Subscribe to George Lloyd Table Top Carol PDF. 

 If you would like to print your own Christmas card,  incorporating the Carol, finished printer's artwork is available free of charge, by clicking the link to the right. Please note this is a large file (7Mb) and includes printers trim marks etc.  -------> 

Joyeux Noel, Joyeux Noel, soit la fete benie, Joyeux Noel

Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas,
May the festival be blessed, Happy Christmas!