A contemporary arrangement by Nicholas Maw (1935-2009) of the Basque carol, The Angel Gabriel is one of four short Christmas carols that the composer wrote in the 1960s. The well-known melody is treated in a variety of ways, passing between voices frequently amongst busy textures and bold harmonies. The work, in four parts with no divisi and presented in a new edition, is a welcome return of a remarkable version of an instantly recognisable Christmas carol.