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Barlow Bradford's carol arrangements are regular features of the Utah Chamber Artists' Christmas concerts. This year, the group's founder and artistic director will share the bill with his son, Christopher, an up-and-coming composer who has written two carols for the occasion.

The elder Bradford's contributions to the program include an original carol, "Let Us All Be Merry," as well as a trio of familiar carols he has arranged. The merriment continues with "Rejoice and Be Merry," part of the suite "On Christmas Night" by former King's Singers tenor Bob Chilcott, and the Chris Bradford original "Let Us Drink and Be Merry."

"It's probably the warmest and fuzziest Christmas concert we've done in many years," Barlow Bradford said. He added that the concert will include a substantial audience-participation segment. "We have good singers in our audience," he said.

Of his son's contributions, he said, "When it comes to music, I can be impartial, and he's quite something. … There's an immediate connection you can feel to the music. It's crafted beautifully; he understands how to write for choirs."

Chris Bradford started writing marimba solos when he was 12 or 13 and got into choral writing while a student at Davis High School. Now 20 and a percussion major at the University of Utah, he intends to pursue graduate studies in composition. He cites Igor Stravinsky, John Adams, Eriks Esenvalds and his father as influences.

"Let Us Drink and Be Merry" is a setting of a "really ridiculous" 17th-century text about enjoying life to the fullest "because we're all going to die tomorrow," he said. "I've tried to kind of reflect that. The music is very chromatic; some of it I think is really kind of funny, with trombone slides and outrageous chromatic scales." A simple carol, "Christmas Lullaby," will offer contrast, he said.

When • Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Libby Gardner Concert Hall, 1375 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $15; $10 for students ($17.50 and $12 day of show); utahchamberartists.org