£10.00 £8.33 Ex vat
The Girl Choristers and Lay Clerks of Ely Cathedral
Aaron Shilson organ
Sarah MacDonald conductor
189 in stock
Description
New carols, new arrangements, and a selection of beautiful and exhilarating Christmas favourites sung by the remarkable Ely Cathedral Girl Choristers, who are joined in a number of tracks by the Ely Cathedral Lay Clerks. Recorded in the glorious acoustic of Ely Cathedral this disc offers twenty-three immediately attractive and captivating carols for Christmas.
Track List
Deck the hall – Welsh trad, arr Mark Armstrong
1:52 No small wonder – Paul Edwards
2:54 O holy night – Adolphe Adam, arr Sarah MacDonald
4:31 There is no rose – John Joubert
2:35 Come to Bethlehem – Peter Warlock, arr Maurice Jacobson
2:33 Away in a manger – Normandy trad, arr Alexander Berry
3:06 Glorificamus Deum – Annabel Rooney
2:06 Corpus Christi Carol – Richard Peat
4:21 The cherry tree carol – English trad, arr Sarah MacDonald
3:17 A Hymn to the Virgin – Edmund Rubbra
2:34 Sir Christèmas – Bernard Trafford
3:07 A Spotless Rose – Paul Mealor
5:07 Love came down at Christmas – Simon Lole
2:49 Follow that star – Peter Gritton
2:08 Adam lay ybounden – Matthew Larkin
2:59 What sweeter music – John Rutter
4:18 St Godric’s Hymn – Gary Higginson
2:07 Mater ora filium – Charles Wood, arr Harrison Oxley
3:06 A Christmas Blessing – Philip Stopford
3:02 The holly and the ivy – English trad, arr Sarah MacDonald
3:41 Away in a manger – William J Kirkpatrick, arr Gary Cole
2:48 My Lord has come – Will Todd
4:02 Three angels – Ben Parry
2:27Total playing time: 71:30
Production credits
Recorded in Ely Cathedral on 14–16 April 2018 by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter
Recording Producer: Gary Cole,
Assistant Engineer: Andy Gammon
Editing: Myles Eastwood and Gary Cole
Sample audio extracts
Reviews
CLASSICfm DRIVETIME DISCOVERY ALBUM OF THE WEEK 10th December 2018
‘The girls sing with a rich, vibrant sound infused with a striking musical intelligence.’ American Record Guide January 2019
‘Some terrific arrangements and original carols here – a refreshing break from the usual seasonal offering. The girl choristers produce a beautiful, blended sound.’
* * * * BBC Music Christmas 2018
‘…the girl choristers of Ely Cathedral, who stick to anthem carols by living composers and offer bright, firm, well-supported but honest singing that is frequently joyous…’ Gramophone December 2018
‘…tuneful, confident and expressive singing…’ Cathedral Music November 2019
‘The girls’ choir, now 12 years old, is one of the strongest UK cathedral girls’ choirs; … and have excellent tone, whether powerful or at the softest end of the spectrum.’
Church Music Quarterly December 2018
‘…they are as professional and disciplined as any other group of British cathedral choristers. Indeed, the sound they produce has a clarity of articulation and diction, a precision of pitch and ensemble, and a level of technical security which is beyond reproach. This is excellent singing and from the outstanding blend of voices as well as the delicious purity of sound,…’ MusicWeb December 2018
‘As soon as you hear the special arrangement by Mark Armstrong of Deck the hall which opens this new Christmas recording on the Regent label, you know that you’re in for a treat full of pleasant diversions…The recording captures very well the resonant acoustic of Ely Cathedral, and the blend of the high and low voices set against the rich sound of the pipe organ’ Classical Music Sentinel November 2018
‘…conductor Sarah MacDonald has got the balance between familiar favourites and new discoveries just about right…The vocal blend is good throughout and there are some excellent soloists.. Even if you have an extensive collection of Christmas music there is enough new material that is worth hearing to make this a safe recommendation’ Crossrythms November 2018
