“Christmas at St. George’s, Windsor” – Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle/ James Vivian/ Luke Bond, organ – Hyperion CDA68281, 70:23 [Distr. by PIAS] ****:
Looking for a Christmas album with many carols, ancient and modern? Some in arrangements from contemporaries while others are traditional? With a choir and setting and choral makeup that reflects the most eloquent and old-style in the best English manner? Then look no further than this gorgeously presented album from the choir of Henry the Eighth’s burial ground, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. It is sans sidewalk shopping, sans gaudy decorations, sans any hint of popular Christmas songs, and sans Black Friday/ Cyber Monday grotesqueness. It is instead a humble, beautiful, faithfully sung and straightforward presentation of wonderful music that will take you back to a time long forgotten and in separate need of resurrection in our modern society. Sonics are wonderful and the choir is obviously on top of its game. Sit back, relax, and delve into the mysteries of the season.
Tracklist:
Advent: Creator of the stars of night (anon); Vigilate (Byrd); Saviour of the World (Hoddinott); This is the record of John (Gibbons); Rorate caeli (Rheinberger); Telling (Finnissy); Bogoroditse Devo Rejoice O virgin (Part); A tender shoot (Goldschmidt); Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (Gardner).
Christmas: Puer natus est nobis (anon); Puer natus est nobis (Byrd); Sussex Carol (Ledger); Cantique de Noel (Adam); Carol of the Bells (Leontovych); Watt’s Cradle Song (Madden); I saw three ships (anon arr Ledger); Away in a Manger (Kirkpatrick arr. Briggs); The seven joys of Mary (Whitehead).
Epiphany: Ecce advenit (anon); Ecce advenit (Byrd); This gracious gift (Bullard); A gallery carol (Jacques); Bethlehem Down (Warlock); Nowell we sing (Martin).
—Steven Ritter
