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Carol of the Bells / Christophers, The Sixteen
Coro

Carol of the Bells / Christophers, The Sixteen

$20.99

Details

Composer
VARIOUS
Artist
The Sixteen, Christophers
Format
CD
Label
Coro
Released
Oct 01, 2021
Catalog #
COR16188
UPC
828021618826

About

Christophers elegantly mixes traditional carols, 20th century British standards, and contemporary works, and at every turn, there is something new.

The Sixteen contrasts traditional with contemporary in this choral feast of festive music. Bob Chilcott's sumptuous Advent Antiphons based on plainsong melodies anticipate the coming of Christmas and feature alongside Mykola Leontovich's much-loved Carol of the Bells, Richard Rodney Bennett’s stunning Susanni and Eric Whitacre’s shimmering Lux aurumque. Interspersed with the beautiful simplicity of traditional carols, this is a Christmas collection to savor.

Harry Christophers stands among today’s great champions of choral music. In partnership with The Sixteen, the ensemble he founded almost 40 years ago, he has set benchmark standards for the performance of everything from late medieval polyphony to important new works by contemporary composers. His international influence is supported by more than 150 recordings and has been enhanced by his work as Artistic Director of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society and as guest conductor worldwide. The Sixteen’s soundworld, rich in tonal variety and expressive nuance, reflects Christophers’ determination to create a vibrant choral instrument from the blend of adult professional singers. Under his leadership The Sixteen has established its annual Choral Pilgrimage to cathedrals, churches and other UK venues, created the Sacred Music series for BBC television, and developed an acclaimed period-instrument orchestra. Highlights of their recent work include an Artist Residency at Wigmore Hall, a large-scale tour of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, and the world premiere of James MacMillan’s Symphony No. 5, ‘Le grand Inconnu’; their future projects, meanwhile, comprise a new series devoted to Purcell and an ongoing survey of Handel’s dramatic oratorios.

REVIEW:

The title Carol of the Bells might suggest a greatest Christmas hits collection, and that Ukrainian standard is indeed present, but most of the material is a good deal less familiar. Christophers elegantly mixes traditional carols, 20th century British standards, and contemporary works, and at every turn, there is something new. Some of the traditional carols come from an old Oxford publication; Christophers notes that several, such as All in the Morning, have fallen out of use, and his case for their revival is persuasive. The Sixteen's reading of Eric Whitacre's much-recorded Lux aurumque is top-tier, and from the opening Pilgrim Jesus of Bob Chilcott, the program just flows unusually naturally. This is a holiday album that adds new subjects to the conversation even as it upholds some long traditions.

-- AllMusic.com (James Manheim)

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 Pilgrim Jesus 02:04
    Track
    1
    Title
    Pilgrim Jesus
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  2. 2 Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming 04:23
    Track
    2
    Title
    Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Michael Praetorius, Jan Sandström
    Performer
    Alexandra Kidgell, Edward McMullan, Mark Dobell, Rob MacDonald
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  3. 3 Sans Day Carol 02:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    Sans Day Carol
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  4. 4 Adam Lay Ybounden 03:13
    Track
    4
    Title
    Adam Lay Ybounden
    Duration
    03:13
    Composer
    Matthew Martin
    Performer
    Ben Davies, Rob MacDonald
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  5. 5 Carol of the Bells 01:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Carol of the Bells
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  6. 6 Of a Rose 02:31
    Track
    6
    Title
    Of a Rose
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Cecilia McDowall
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  7. 7 People, Look East (Carol of the Advent) 02:08
    Track
    7
    Title
    People, Look East (Carol of the Advent)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  8. 8 Christmas Eve 02:49
    Track
    8
    Title
    Christmas Eve
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Kim Porter
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  9. 9 5 Carols: No. 5. Susanni 01:35
    Track
    9
    Title
    5 Carols: No. 5. Susanni
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Rodney Bennett
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  10. 10 Glory to the Christ Child 02:53
    Track
    10
    Title
    Glory to the Christ Child
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Alan Bullard
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  11. 11 Lux Aurumque 04:16
    Track
    11
    Title
    Lux Aurumque
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Eric Whitacre
    Performer
    Julie Cooper
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  12. 12 I am the Day 06:54
    Track
    12
    Title
    I am the Day
    Duration
    06:54
    Composer
    Jonathan Dove
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  13. 13 This have I done for my true love, Op. 34, No. 1 05:46
    Track
    13
    Title
    This have I done for my true love, Op. 34, No. 1
    Duration
    05:46
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  14. 14 Wassail Song 03:16
    Track
    14
    Title
    Wassail Song
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Katy Hill, Alexandra Kidgell, Ben Davies, Tim Jones
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  15. 15 Long, Long ago 05:30
    Track
    15
    Title
    Long, Long ago
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Herbert Howells
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  16. 16 All this time 01:47
    Track
    16
    Title
    All this time
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    William Walton
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  17. 17 And All in the Morning 03:00
    Track
    17
    Title
    And All in the Morning
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  18. 18 Lullay, lullay, thou lytil child 04:28
    Track
    18
    Title
    Lullay, lullay, thou lytil child
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Joseph Phibbs
    Performer
    Charlotte Mobbs, Edward McMullan, George Pooley, Tim Jones
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  19. 19 Balulalow 02:20
    Track
    19
    Title
    Balulalow
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    James Burton
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  20. 20 What Sweeter Music Can We Bring (A Christmas Carol) 03:16
    Track
    20
    Title
    What Sweeter Music Can We Bring (A Christmas Carol)
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  21. 21 No. 1. O Sapientia 02:04
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 1. O Sapientia
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  22. 22 No. 2. O Adonaï 01:46
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 2. O Adonaï
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  23. 23 No. 3. O Radix Jesse 01:43
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 3. O Radix Jesse
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  24. 24 No. 4. O Clavis David 02:20
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 4. O Clavis David
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  25. 25 No. 5. O Oriens 02:08
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 5. O Oriens
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  26. 26 No. 6. O Rex gentium 01:34
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 6. O Rex gentium
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers
  27. 27 No. 7. O Emmanuel 01:46
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 7. O Emmanuel
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Bob Chilcott
    Ensemble
    The Sixteen Choir
    Conductor
    Harry Christophers