The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album / Rutter
Collegium Records

The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album / Rutter

$12.99

Details

Composer
ADAM BERLIOZ VICTORIA SWEEL
Artist
Rutter, Cambridge Singers, City Of London Sinfonia, Varcoe, Ashton, Holton, Kerslake, Orton
Format
CD
Label
Collegium Records
Released
Jan 01, 2003
Catalog #
CSCD512
UPC
040888051220

About

Over the past couple of decades, the Christmas recordings of John Rutter and his Cambridge Singers have claimed such a solid and widely enjoyed presence among choral music fans that we have to say that this group and its director/composer/arranger have long ago passed from phenomenon to tradition. This new release, which contains 19 previously issued but newly re-mixed tracks along with four never-before released selections, is both a celebration of that legacy and a re-affirmation of Rutter's uniquely influential contributions to a special genre that began years ago with his acclaimed carol arrangements and his now-classic anthem "What sweeter music". While this disc does not feature Rutter's own compositions--those can be found on an earlier companion disc, The John Rutter Christmas Album (type Q5895 in Search Reviews)--it does offer many of his carol arrangements (notably the infectious "Somerset Wassail") along with some of the finest by such masters as David Willcocks, H. Walford Davies, and Healey Willan (whose rarely-heard setting of "What is this lovely fragrance?" is happily included rather than the fine but ubiquitous Willcocks version).

The program also provides a very healthy dose of original pieces, from Victoria's O magnum mysterium, Handel's For unto us a child is born, Kenneth Leighton's Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child, and Britten's A New Year Carol, to Sweelinck's double-choir Hodie Christus natus est, John Tavener's The Lamb, and Peter Warlock's Balulalow and I saw a fair maiden. The disc ends with Vaughan Williams' rousing Fantasia on Christmas Carols. As you might expect, there's not a dull moment during this very generously filled 77-plus-minute CD, and there's so much joy and beauty in these well-chosen, perfectly sung pieces that a simple numerical rating doesn't do it justice. The sound is appropriately full, vibrant, clear, and dynamic. Add this to your list. [11/8/2003]

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 The holly and the ivy 02:53
    Track
    1
    Title
    The holly and the ivy
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  2. 2 Blessed be that maid Mary 02:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    Blessed be that maid Mary
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  3. 3 Somerset Wassail 02:05
    Track
    3
    Title
    Somerset Wassail
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  4. 4 Shepherds, in the field abiding 02:52
    Track
    4
    Title
    Shepherds, in the field abiding
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Edward Shippen Barnes
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  5. 5 The Infant King 02:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    The Infant King
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Caroline Ashton
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  6. 6 What is this lovely fragrance? 03:23
    Track
    6
    Title
    What is this lovely fragrance?
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  7. 7 Gabriel's message 02:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    Gabriel's message
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Ruth Holton
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  8. 8 Still, still, still 02:13
    Track
    8
    Title
    Still, still, still
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  9. 9 Quittez, pasteurs 02:27
    Track
    9
    Title
    Quittez, pasteurs
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  10. 10 Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle 02:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  11. 11 Personent hodie 01:43
    Track
    11
    Title
    Personent hodie
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  12. 12 L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25: The shepherds' farewell 03:37
    Track
    12
    Title
    L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25: The shepherds' farewell
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  13. 13 O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël) 04:37
    Track
    13
    Title
    O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël)
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    Adolphe Adam
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  14. 14 O magnum mysterium 04:00
    Track
    14
    Title
    O magnum mysterium
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Tomás Luis de Victoria
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  15. 15 Hodie Christus natus est 02:50
    Track
    15
    Title
    Hodie Christus natus est
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  16. 16 Messiah, HWV 56: For unto us a child is born 04:08
    Track
    16
    Title
    Messiah, HWV 56: For unto us a child is born
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  17. 17 In dulci jubilo 03:21
    Track
    17
    Title
    In dulci jubilo
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Samuel Scheidt
    Performer
    Michael Meeks, Edward Hobart, John Scott
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  18. 18 Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child 03:07
    Track
    18
    Title
    Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Kenneth Leighton
    Performer
    Caroline Ashton
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  19. 19 Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: No. 5: A New Year Carol 02:15
    Track
    19
    Title
    Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: No. 5: A New Year Carol
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Rachel Masters
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  20. 20 Balulalow 02:01
    Track
    20
    Title
    Balulalow
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Peter Warlock
    Performer
    Karen Kerslake
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  21. 21 I saw a fair maiden 02:58
    Track
    21
    Title
    I saw a fair maiden
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Peter Warlock
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  22. 22 The Lamb 03:24
    Track
    22
    Title
    The Lamb
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    John Tavener
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers
    Conductor
    John Rutter
  23. 23 Fantasia on Christmas Carols 11:27
    Track
    23
    Title
    Fantasia on Christmas Carols
    Duration
    11:27
    Composer
    Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Performer
    Stephen Varcoe, Stephen Orton
    Ensemble
    Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    John Rutter