The story of the birth of Jesus is a remarkable one on many levels---whether we see it as an account of the divine made human or simply as a tale of human endeavor. These carols celebrate a child's birth in exceptional circumstances, and what that child was to become: a man who loved his fellow humans and who lived by a humble, selfless creed, championing the marginalized in a society in which life was fraught with political tensions. These carols are for everybody: for the believer and non-believer, for people of various faiths, and simply for the curious. Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 treble recorders, oboe, clarinet (B-flat), bass clarinet, percussion, harp, piano, and strings.