Sono Luminus
A Choral Christmas / Jones, Trinity Choir Of Boston
$18.99
Details
- Composer
- RUTTER LUBOFF GARNDER POSTO
- Artist
- TRINITY CHOIR
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Sono Luminus
- Released
- Jul 23, 1997
- Catalog #
- DOR-93240
- UPC
- 053479324023
About
From the first few seconds of this new recording from Brian Jones and his Trinity Choir, you know it's Christmas. The flute and bell sounds, the dancing rhythm from the organ, the prodigiously joyful voices, and the catchy, unmistakably Rutter-esque melody combine to set off the sparks that promise a bright, happy, thoughtfully and lovingly compiled program. I say "lovingly" because this is the type of programming that, as usual with Jones, is not made with the "snooty" or "snobbish" in mind, but comes purely from the heart and from the experience of a director who knows and cares about the real listening tastes of his audience. (You've got to admire anyone who convincingly and with conviction programs "The Holy City" alongside works by Britten and Vaughan Williams, as he did on an earlier recording for Gothic Records.) And, as reflected here, those tastes, especially in Christmas music, cover a fairly wide range--from Rutter (three pieces) to Poulenc (O magnum mysterium) to Luboff (his well-loved arrangement of the Austrian carol Still, still, still).
The opening tune indeed is by John Rutter, a setting of the 15th-century text "Sing we to this merry company", and it's quickly followed by the Luboff arrangement, Gerald Near's setting of Ding! dong! merrily on high, and the well-known Pearsall version of In dulci jubilo. The combination of familiarity and audience-favorite continues throughout the rest of the 21 selections, with classics such as Rutter's all-time most-popular What sweeter music, Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the apple tree, and Poulenc's motet O magnum mysterium. But mixed in among these revered gems are many less well-known pieces, including a snazzy, bluesy Noël nouvelet arranged by Stephen Jackson, Michael Head's charming and lovely The little road to Bethlehem, and of course a Charles Wood arrangement, Once as I remember (Wood is a Jones favorite).
The choir, one of North America's treasures, always is a treat to hear, displaying not only an enormous stylistic command but also uncommon technical range and interpretive sensitivity. I've said this before, but it's still true: The soprano section would be the envy of any choir. However, the entire ensemble manages a consistent cohesiveness and sonic refinement that's rare among amateur choirs in any part of the world. Even in small details, the choir shows extraordinary care and attention--for instance, in the perfectly rendered endings to the simple but so-often-troublesome "Gloria" line in Ding! dong! merrily on high. And for sheer strength and unity of sound, listen to the choir's rendition of Holst's On this day earth shall ring. Other highlights include Bob Chilcott's Mid-winter, a setting of the Christina Rossetti text "In the bleak mid-winter" that's become an instant favorite all over the world. Jones himself contributes a very effective arrangement of O little town of Bethlehem that joins the two "competing" tunes St. Louis and Forest Green. Although I would prefer a warmer, softer-edged sound in the Poulenc to really capture the "mysterium" in the work, and slightly better-tuned tenors in some places (What sweeter music, for example), this is a first rate recording that will satisfy all listeners looking for an ideal all-around Christmas choral collection. The sound, made in Boston's Trinity Church, captures the detail of choir, organ, and occasional percussion while faithfully capturing the fullness and resonance of the church's magnificent space.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
The opening tune indeed is by John Rutter, a setting of the 15th-century text "Sing we to this merry company", and it's quickly followed by the Luboff arrangement, Gerald Near's setting of Ding! dong! merrily on high, and the well-known Pearsall version of In dulci jubilo. The combination of familiarity and audience-favorite continues throughout the rest of the 21 selections, with classics such as Rutter's all-time most-popular What sweeter music, Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the apple tree, and Poulenc's motet O magnum mysterium. But mixed in among these revered gems are many less well-known pieces, including a snazzy, bluesy Noël nouvelet arranged by Stephen Jackson, Michael Head's charming and lovely The little road to Bethlehem, and of course a Charles Wood arrangement, Once as I remember (Wood is a Jones favorite).
The choir, one of North America's treasures, always is a treat to hear, displaying not only an enormous stylistic command but also uncommon technical range and interpretive sensitivity. I've said this before, but it's still true: The soprano section would be the envy of any choir. However, the entire ensemble manages a consistent cohesiveness and sonic refinement that's rare among amateur choirs in any part of the world. Even in small details, the choir shows extraordinary care and attention--for instance, in the perfectly rendered endings to the simple but so-often-troublesome "Gloria" line in Ding! dong! merrily on high. And for sheer strength and unity of sound, listen to the choir's rendition of Holst's On this day earth shall ring. Other highlights include Bob Chilcott's Mid-winter, a setting of the Christina Rossetti text "In the bleak mid-winter" that's become an instant favorite all over the world. Jones himself contributes a very effective arrangement of O little town of Bethlehem that joins the two "competing" tunes St. Louis and Forest Green. Although I would prefer a warmer, softer-edged sound in the Poulenc to really capture the "mysterium" in the work, and slightly better-tuned tenors in some places (What sweeter music, for example), this is a first rate recording that will satisfy all listeners looking for an ideal all-around Christmas choral collection. The sound, made in Boston's Trinity Church, captures the detail of choir, organ, and occasional percussion while faithfully capturing the fullness and resonance of the church's magnificent space.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 21 tracks
-
1 Sing we to this merry company 02:04
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Sing we to this merry company
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
2 Still, still, still 03:10
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Still, still, still
- Duration
- 03:10
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
3 Ding Dong Merrily on High 02:06
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Ding Dong Merrily on High
- Duration
- 02:06
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
4 In dulci jubilo 03:40
- Track
- 4
- Title
- In dulci jubilo
- Duration
- 03:40
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Libbie Landles-Dowling, Liza Wirtz, Krista River, Jacqueline Zander-Wall, Carl Johnson, Douglas Lee, Jay Tuttle, Anthony Zoeller, Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
5 What sweeter music 04:18
- Track
- 5
- Title
- What sweeter music
- Duration
- 04:18
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
6 Tomorrow shall be my dancing day 02:12
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
- Duration
- 02:12
- Composer
- John Gardner
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
7 The Holy and the Ivy 03:14
- Track
- 7
- Title
- The Holy and the Ivy
- Duration
- 03:14
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Libbie Landles-Dowling, Anthony Zoeller, Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
8 Jesus Christ the Apple Tree 03:14
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
- Duration
- 03:14
- Composer
- Elizabeth Poston
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
9 Go Tell it on the Mountain 03:28
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- Duration
- 03:28
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Dana Whiteside, Anthony Zoeller, Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
10 Mid-Winter (version for mixed chorus and piano) 04:04
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Mid-Winter (version for mixed chorus and piano)
- Duration
- 04:04
- Composer
- Bob Chilcott
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
11 I Saw Three Ships 02:06
- Track
- 11
- Title
- I Saw Three Ships
- Duration
- 02:06
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
12 Coventry Carol 02:34
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Coventry Carol
- Duration
- 02:34
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
13 Before the Marvel of this Night 02:41
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Before the Marvel of this Night
- Duration
- 02:41
- Composer
- Carl Schalk
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
14 Once, as I remember 02:29
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Once, as I remember
- Duration
- 02:29
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
15 A stable in Bethlehem 03:19
- Track
- 15
- Title
- A stable in Bethlehem
- Duration
- 03:19
- Composer
- Peter Taylor
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
16 Nöel nouvelet 04:44
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Nöel nouvelet
- Duration
- 04:44
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
17 4 Motets pour le temps de Noel: No. 1. O magnum mysterium 03:21
- Track
- 17
- Title
- 4 Motets pour le temps de Noel: No. 1. O magnum mysterium
- Duration
- 03:21
- Composer
- Francis Poulenc
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
18 Personent hodie 02:41
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Personent hodie
- Duration
- 02:41
- Composer
- Traditional
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
19 The Little Road To Bethlehem 03:31
- Track
- 19
- Title
- The Little Road To Bethlehem
- Duration
- 03:31
- Composer
- Michael Head
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
20 O Little Town of Bethlehem (arr. B. Jones) 02:50
- Track
- 20
- Title
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (arr. B. Jones)
- Duration
- 02:50
- Composer
- Lewis H. Redner
- Performer
- Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones
-
21 God is with us 04:50
- Track
- 21
- Title
- God is with us
- Duration
- 04:50
- Composer
- John Tavener
- Performer
- Jay Tuttle, Anthony Zoeller, Alan Weiss, Judy Saiki, Michael Kleinschmidt, Richard Flanagan, Jean Munroe, Liza Wirtz
- Ensemble
- Boston Trinity Church Choir
- Conductor
- Brian Jones