The Darkest Midnight - Winter Songs from Medieval to Modern / Papagena

$15.99
Label
SOMM Recordings
Release Date
November 16, 2018
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      VARIOUS
    • PERFORMER
      Papagena
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      November 16, 2018
    • UPC
      748871018921
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SOMMCD 0189
    • LABEL
      SOMM Recordings
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Don oiche ud i mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem) (arr. S. Vango)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    2. Maria durch ein Dornwald ging (arr. P. Pawson)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    3. Nowell, Tidings True There Be Come New

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    4. O Jesulein zart (arr. W. Brückner)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    5. A Nativity

      Composer: John Tavener

      Ensemble: Papagena

    6. Shchedryk (Hark How the Bells) (adap. P.J. Wihousky and arr. E. Drury)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    7. Balulalow (arr. S. Vango)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    8. The River (arr. J. Clements)

      Composer: Joni Mitchell

      Ensemble: Papagena

    9. L'enfant et les sortileges: Toi, le coeur de la rose (arr. C. Gottwald for vocal ensemble)

      Composer: Maurice Ravel

      Ensemble: Papagena

    10. Angelus ad Virginem

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    11. Sancta Mater Graciae - Dou way Robin

      Composer: Anonymous

      Ensemble: Papagena

    12. Gaudete (arr. S. Vango)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    13. The Darkest Midnight (arr. D.Ó. Muirithe)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    14. The Waiting Sky

      Composer: Lucia Quinault

      Ensemble: Papagena

    15. Det lisle bånet (The Little Child) (arr. T. Krohn for vocal ensemble and percussion)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

      Performer: Andy Guthrie

    16. In dulci Jubilo (arr. M. Culloton)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Papagena

    17. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo! How a Rose, E'er Blooming) (arr. S. Tenant-Flowers)

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Papagena

    18. When the Earth Stands Still

      Composer: Don Macdonald

      Ensemble: Papagena

    19. Fusion

      Composer: Don Macdonald

      Ensemble: Papagena


The all-female vocal ensemble Papagena makes its debut on SOMM Recordings with The Darkest Midnight, a sublime collection of songs for winter from the Middle Ages to the modern era embracing the secular and the sacred. Described as “a stunning addition to the vocal music scene” and “la crème de la crème in the crowded a cappella space”, Papagena’s three sopranos (Elizabeth Drury, Abbi Temple, Suzie Vango) and two altos (Suzzie Purkis, Sarah Tenant-Flowers) look certain to add to their fast-growing reputation with this beautifully sung compendium. Casting a dark glamour all of its own, the bleakness of winter has prompted some of the most bewitching, brittle and bright songs. Alongside traditional Christmas anthems can be found legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s ‘The River’ in an achingly melancholic arrangement and American composer Don Macdonald, whose When the Earth Stands Still is movingly poignant and still, twilit and shining. Celebratory songs marking the Christmas season – the exuberant In dulci Jubilo, burnished, glowing harmonies of Angelus ad virginem, sublimely serene Es ist ein Ros entsprungen and infectious Shchedryk/Hark How the Bells from Ukraine – are heard alongside lilting Irish songs from antiquity and the charming Scottish lullaby Balulalow. Songs from England, Germany, Norway and ‘Toi le coeur de la rose’ from Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges round off a recording that includes first performances of eight arrangements and is marked by sheer beauty of sound.