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Music for Advent and Christmas by Alan Bullard
The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Directed by Sarah MacDonald
Timothy Parsons and John Bachelor Organ

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Description

Alan Bullard’s O Come, Emmanuel is an Advent Celebration based on the Great ‘O’ Antiphons. It is the second of three cantatas for broadly similar forces that Bullard wrote in successive years, the first being Wondrous Cross  (2011), recorded by Selwyn College Choir (REGCD404). O Come Emmanuel (2012) is dedicated to Sarah MacDonald and the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College and was first performed in a service in Selwyn College Chapel on Advent Sunday, 1st December 2013.

The remainder of this disc contains ten new Christmas carols. The dates of the poems that Alan Bullard has chosen to set range from the present day to the distant past, but all tell the same story, beloved of Christians for centuries.

Selwyn College Choir, under the direction of Sarah MacDonald, have gained increasing critcal recognition in recent years, not least for their advocacy of the works of living composers. Their previous CD release The Eternal Ecstasy spent several weeks in the Specialist Classical Charts and was Classicfm Album of the Week in July 2015.

Track List

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Directed by Sarah MacDonald
Timothy Parsons† and John Bachelor* Organ

O Come, Emmanuel†
Prelude
0:52
Advent Responsory (i)
1:18
Hymn: The advent of our God
1:47
O wisdom | O Sapientia
0:43
Where shall Wisdom be found?
2:11
O Lord of Lords | O Adonaï
0:45
Come, thou long-expected Jesus
2:34
O Root of Jesse | O Radix Jesse
0:49
There is a rose-tree
3:02
O Key of David | O Clavis David
0:42
Earth grown old
2:46
Hymn: Thy kingdom come! on bended knee
2:43
O Morning Star | O Oriens
0:34
Chanticleer
3:18
O King of the Nations | O Rex Gentium
0:20
Hymn: Joy to the world!
1:59
And they shall call his name Emmanuel
0:32
O Emmanuel
1:26
Gabriel’s Message
2:32
And art thou come with us to dwell?
2:59
Advent Responsory (ii)
1:16
Hymn: Lo! he comes with clouds descending
4:10
Ten Carols for Christmas
A baby so small, a message so great†
2:57
A boy is born in Bethlehem (Puer natus)†
2:24
And all the stars looked down
2:38
Hillside Carol*
3:11
The gracious gift
2:29
This night*
4:42
Rose of such virtue
3:05
Child in the manger, Lord of all
2:38
A star as bright as day*
2:42
Merrily did the shepherds blow*
4:27

Total Playing time: 70:39

Production credits

Recorded on 30 June, 1–2 July 2014 in Ely Cathedral by permission of the Dean and Chapter

Producer and engineer: Gary Cole

Assistant engineer: Andy Gammon

Editing: Myles Eastwood and Gary Cole

Sample audio extracts

Reviews

‘Tuning and ensemble is immaculate, and their blend is admirable, as is their engagement with the music – a composer couldn’t wish for more committed and sympathetic performances. ’ Cathedral Music November 2016

‘Sarah MacDonald moulds her forces with an elegant understanding of Bullard’s intentions. The soft singing of this well-balanced choir is particularly pleasant: There is a Rose Tree, for example, glows with a tenderness that suits these developing voices very well.’ Organists’ Review March 2016


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