Notes and Editorial Reviews
Anyone interested in the best Christmas choral music sung by British cathedral choirs need look no further than the Priory Records catalog. From the newly issued
Noël to earlier releases from the cathedrals of Norwich (Rejos for Joy) and Southwark (The message of Christmas), you'll find all of the most beloved carols, anthems, and songs plus many new and/or unfamiliar gems. The four-volume series titled Christmas Joy, from which this disc is taken, includes the choirs of York Minster (Vol. 1), Durham (2), Chester (3), and St. George's Chapel. The choir exhibits a lovely, full-bodied sound with clear, bright (warm, not harsh) trebles, with ideal ensemble balance
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from bottom to top. The recording gives a natural sense of the chapel acoustics and affords plenty of space for the full tuttis with organ to bloom. Sometimes this resonance is a little overwhelming (toward the end of John Gardner's Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, for instance) and disturbs what otherwise are remarkably clear, detailed performances. In fact, you can hear and understand almost every word without losing the overall ensemble perspective--in other words, you can hear the detail without having to be placed in the middle of the choir! This affords an exciting listening experience that captures what early digital recording promoters used to promise: the feeling that you are right there.
Excellent sound aside, the real draw for this disc is the wonderful, generously filled program--a rich mixture of classics and beautiful, less-familiar pieces--and the first-rate singing. The 25 tracks (a total of 77 and a half minutes of music!) include Vaughan Williams' stately setting of This is the truth from above, Harold Darke's adored In the bleak mid-winter, several Willcocks arrangements (this beguiling performance of Rocking is the best on disc), and Hieronymus Praetorius' setting of Joseph lieber, Joseph mein. But the richest rewards lie in the surprising discoveries you're certain to make--for instance, David Lumsden's Balulalow, Charles Wood's Four Letters (arranged by John McIntosh), Herbert Sumsion's I sing of a maiden, George Thalben-Ball's Polish Lullaby, and a sublime original work by Malcolm Hawkins titled Rosamundi, written to celebrate the birth of his daughter. There's more--much more. But I'll leave that to you to explore--because by now you've decided you just have to have this, haven't you? [12/9/2001]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Joseph lieber, Joseph mein by Hieronymus Praetorius
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Renaissance
Written: Germany
2.
Up! Good Christian folk by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Notes: Arranged: George Ratcliffe Woodward
3.
Traditional English Carols (8): no 6, The truth sent from above by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; England
4.
Adam lay ybounden by Boris Ord
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1957; England
5.
In the bleak mid-winter by Harold Edwin Darke
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; England
6.
Ding Dong! Merrily on high by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Renaissance
Written: 16th Century; France
Notes: Arranger: Charles Wood.
This selection is based on the tune "Branle l'officiel" from Thoinot
Arbeau's "Orchésographie".
7.
Balulalow by David James Lumsden
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
8.
Four Letters by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Notes: Arranged: Charles Wood and John McIntosh
9.
I sing of a maiden by Herbert Sumsion
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
10.
Lullay, dear Jesus by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Written: Poland
Notes: Arranged: George Thalben-Ball
11.
Rosamundi by Malcolm Hawkins
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1994
12.
I saw three ships by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Written: England
Notes: Arranged: David Willcocks
13.
Dormi Jesu by Clive Watkiss
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
14.
The Blessed Virgin Mary's Cradle Song by Edward Bairstow
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: by 1900; England
15.
The maker of the sun and moon by Denys Darlow
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
16.
Christians awake! salute the happy morn by John Wainwright
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Classical
Written: England
Notes: Arranged: Jonathan Rees-Williams
17.
Quelle est cette odeur agréable? by Traditional
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France
Notes: Arranged: David Willcocks
18.
Lute-Book Lullaby "Sweet was the song the virgin sang" by William Ballet
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Baroque
Notes: Arranged: Geoffrey Shaw
19.
The holly and the ivy by Henry Walford Davies
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
20.
English Hymnal: O little town of Bethlehem by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1906; England
21.
Bethlehem Down by Peter Warlock
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1927; England
22.
Rocking by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Written: Czech Republic
Notes: Arranged: David Willcocks
23.
Lully, lulla, thow littel tyne child "Coventry Carol" by Traditional
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: Renaissance
Written: 16th Century; England
24.
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, Op. 75 no 2 by John Gardner
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1965; England
25.
Of the Father's love begotten by Traditional
Performer:
Roger Judd (Organ)
Conductor:
Jonathan Rees-Williams
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Windsor Castle St. George's Chapel Choir
Notes: Arranged: David Willcocks
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Jonathan Rees Williams April 25, 2012
By Peter F. See All My Reviews
"Just discovered this disk which seems to take the complication out of the music to leave a lovely natural sound. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking for more of the same. "
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