This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.
Notes and Editorial Reviews
You have to be a little more creative these days if you want to compile a unique choral Christmas music program--traditional carols and their various popular arrangements and the classic original Christmas works, from Bach to Britten, are more than generously represented in the CD catalog. The excellent St. Martin's Chamber Choir handily solved that problem on its first A Marian Christmas recording with a performance of Distler's rarely-heard variations on Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, along with a number of worthy but lesser-known gems, both arrangements and recently composed original works. With this new follow-up, it's safe to say that the choir and its director Timothy Krueger have done it again, this time highlighted by Glen McGrath's
Read more
beautiful Three Marian Carols. Written in 2000, these lovely, at times gentle, poignant, and powerful settings capture the mystery and magnificence of their subject through careful attention to the poetic texts and an artful joining of both ancient and modern harmonic/melodic/rhythmic techniques.
Geoffrey Bush's Make we Merry is a challenging yet thoroughly modern, infectious treatment of an old carol, as is M. Susan Brown's melding of Two French Carols into a lively, eminently repeatable arrangement (although I wish it had ended about 20 seconds before it does!). You may never have heard John White's Maria Laudate, but if you know the beloved Britten setting of this text, titled Hymn to the Virgin, you'll appreciate White's unique and equally compelling version, which contains an additional verse.
There's much more to savor here, all of it first rate and very well sung (although there are some rare moments where soprano intonation is just slightly under-pitch)--and you'll be certain to appreciate the discovery of many new and rarely-heard works unduplicated elsewhere in your choral Christmas library. Highly recommended!
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Also available: A Marian Christmas
"One of the finest American ensembles you'll hear on recordings. Christmas and choral music fans -- this is one not to miss." -- ClassicsToday.com
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Quem pastores laudavere by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Medieval
Written: 14th Century
Notes: Arranger: John Rutter.
2.
Angelus ad pastores ait by Samuel Scheidt
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Halle, Germany
3.
The Fader of Heven by Peter Maxwell Davies
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
4.
Furchtet euch nicht by Johann Topff
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1700; Germany
5.
Love came down at Christmas by Rodney Williams
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
6.
Marian Carols (3) by Glen McGrath
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 2000
7.
Maria Laudate by John White
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
8.
Gradualia, Volume 1: Part 1 - Beata viscera by William Byrd
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Renaissance
Written: by 1605; England
9.
Upon my lap my soveraigne sits by Martin Peerson
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1620; England
10.
Evening Song by Zoltán Kodály
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1938; Hungary
11.
Brazilian Carol by William J. Tubbs
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
12.
Le sommeil de l'Enfant Jésus by François-Auguste Gevaert
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: Romantic
Written: Belgium
13.
The Virgin's cradle song by Edmund Rubbra
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
14.
French Noëls (2) by M. Susan Brown
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
15.
Wexford Carol by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Written: Ireland
Notes: Arranger: Brock Erickson.
16.
My dancing day by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Written: England
Notes: Arranger: Clifford Harker.
17.
A Christmas Cantata: Rejoice, O make we merry, both more and less by Geoffrey Bush
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1947; England
18.
Masters in this hall by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Written: France
Notes: Arranger: Alfred Whitehead.
19.
I saw three ships by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Written: England
Notes: Arranger: Ian Humphris.
20.
The Gloucester Wassail by Traditional
Conductor:
Timothy J. Krueger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Featured Sound Samples
Two French Noëls (Traditional): Patapan
Wexford Carol (Traditional)
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
