A Christmas Carol

for my friend Jane Blatt, on the occasion of her 70th birthday

14 dances for piano quintet, from the ballet commissioned by Finnish National Ballet with choreography by David Bintley, which was premiered in Helsinki in December 2023.

Scoring:

Violin 1

Violin 2

Viola

Cello

Piano

Volume 1: Act I

1. Overture: Christmas Eve

2. Spirit Dance

3. Storybooks

4. Fezziwig’s Party

5. Belle’s Serenade

6. Tipsy

7. Sad Dance

Volume 2: Act II

1. Turkey Waltz and Hornpipe

2. Fred and Arabella’s Dance

3. Polka

4. Workhouse and Ghost Dance

5. Tiny Tim

6. Danse Macabre

7. Christmas Day

These dances were commissioned by my friend Jane, an accomplished amateur viola player. Each dance lasts between 2 and 5 minutes, and the complete set would last approximately 50 minutes. They may be performed separately or in groups. The whole set may be performed in conjunction with an abridged reading of Dickens’ novella, as a complete concert with interval.

The premiere took place on November 30th 2025 in this form, with Peter Thomson (narrator) and Ensemble V, at Seaford Baptist Church.

Sally Beamish 2025