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A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection, Vol. 2 / The Sixteen
Coro

A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection, Vol. 2 / The Sixteen

$20.99

Details

Composer
TRADITIONAL
Artist
V2: Traditional Christmas
Format
CD
Label
Coro
Released
Sep 27, 2010
Catalog #
COR16085
UPC
828021608520

About


It's no secret that if you're looking for a well-filled, thoughtfully programmed disc of Christmas choral music, you won't go wrong with any of The Sixteen's recordings. In 2006 this oft-lauded group led by founder Harry Christophers released a Volume 1 program of traditional carols, and this year (2010) decided to augment that release with a collection of 20 more favorites (including a few lesser-known pieces). Performed with the knowing style of a seasoned, professional British choir, these songs, hymns, and carols (all very loosely categorized here as "carols")--such gems as Holst's Masters in this hall, Poston's Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, and Darke's beloved In the bleak mid-winter--ring in the season intensified and made more meaningful by the choir's authority and respect for the music, its revered tradition, and with an obvious true love for its sound and inherent spirit.

Although Christophers mentions in the notes that selections were drawn from the 1928 Oxford Book of Carols, and certainly such pieces as the Gloucester Wassail, the Wexford Carol, and In dulci jubilo were at least partially lifted from that source, the provenance of many others is not so clearly evident (Of the Father's heart begotten, for example, isn't included in the 1928 OBC), although in some cases the popular "green" and "orange" carol books may have been consulted.

At any rate, these arrangements are all artful and refreshingly unadorned--in the best "traditional" realizations; where there is organ, its contributions are always tasteful, imaginative, and appropriate to support and/or enhance the singers. And as for the singers, well, this is one of the great, world-class choirs, its uniquely rich, vibrant sound characterized by pure-voiced sopranos and its contingent of male altos. The production and sound, from London's St. Giles Church, Cripplegate, presided over by the first-rate team of Mark Brown and Mike Hatch, is excellent. A solid and satisfying addition to any Christmas music library.

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 20 tracks

  1. 1 Of the Father's Heart Begotten 04:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    Of the Father's Heart Begotten
    Duration
    04:51
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  2. 2 The Truth From Above (arr. R. Vaughan Williams) 02:33
    Track
    2
    Title
    The Truth From Above (arr. R. Vaughan Williams)
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  3. 3 Gabriel's Message 02:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    Gabriel's Message
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  4. 4 Masters in this Hall 02:52
    Track
    4
    Title
    Masters in this Hall
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  5. 5 Past Three a Clock 03:09
    Track
    5
    Title
    Past Three a Clock
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  6. 6 Jesus Christ the Apple Tree 03:17
    Track
    6
    Title
    Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Elizabeth Poston
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  7. 7 In the Bleak Midwinter 04:19
    Track
    7
    Title
    In the Bleak Midwinter
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  8. 8 Gloucestershire Wassail 02:12
    Track
    8
    Title
    Gloucestershire Wassail
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  9. 9 In dulci jubilo 06:57
    Track
    9
    Title
    In dulci jubilo
    Duration
    06:57
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  10. 10 Veni, veni Emmanuel (O come, o come Emmanuel) 03:40
    Track
    10
    Title
    Veni, veni Emmanuel (O come, o come Emmanuel)
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  11. 11 Adam Lay Ybounden 01:21
    Track
    11
    Title
    Adam Lay Ybounden
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  12. 12 Wither's Rocking Hymn 05:54
    Track
    12
    Title
    Wither's Rocking Hymn
    Duration
    05:54
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  13. 13 The Cherry Tree Carol 02:02
    Track
    13
    Title
    The Cherry Tree Carol
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  14. 14 It Came upon the Midnight Clear 03:09
    Track
    14
    Title
    It Came upon the Midnight Clear
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  15. 15 Personent hodie 02:37
    Track
    15
    Title
    Personent hodie
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  16. 16 Down in Yon Forest 02:57
    Track
    16
    Title
    Down in Yon Forest
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  17. 17 The Wexford carol 04:26
    Track
    17
    Title
    The Wexford carol
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  18. 18 Joys Seven 02:41
    Track
    18
    Title
    Joys Seven
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  19. 19 As with Gladness Men of Old 03:07
    Track
    19
    Title
    As with Gladness Men of Old
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Conrad Kocher
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  20. 20 Unto Us a Boy Is Born 02:26
    Track
    20
    Title
    Unto Us a Boy Is Born
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Robert Quinney
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers