Notes and Editorial Reviews
The Vasari Singers’ annual carol concerts always provide a warming blend of traditional favourites and less well-known music from all periods and styles. Here, joyous and masterful 16th-century polyphony sits alongside eternally popular Victorian carols, and exquisitely crafted settings by Howells and Walford Davies join works as recent as Gabriel Jackson’s The Christ-child. Bob Chilcott magically superimposes traditional carols with entrancing new material, and no Vasari Christmas would be complete without some close harmony Swingle singing.
The Vasari Singers’ annual carol concerts always provide a warming blend of traditional favourites and less well-known music from all periods and styles. Here, joyous and masterful 16th-century polyphony sits alongside eternally popular Victorian carols, and exquisitely crafted settings by Howells and Walford Davies join works as recent as Gabriel Jackson’s The Christ-child. Bob Chilcott magically superimposes traditional carols with entrancing new material, and no Vasari Christmas would be complete without some close harmony Swingle singing. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
On Christmas Night: This is the truth by Robert Chilcott
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
2.
Gabriel's message by Traditional
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Written: Basque Provinces
3.
Hodie Christus natus est by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: Renaissance
Written: Netherlands
4.
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen by Jan Sandstrom
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
5.
Carol-Anthems (3) for Chorus: no 3, Sing lullaby by Herbert Howells
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1918-1920; England
6.
Hymne a la Vierge, Op. 24 by Pierre Villette
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
7.
On Christmas Night: Sweet was the song by Robert Chilcott
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
8.
Of the Father's heart begotten by Traditional
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Written: pub 1582
9.
Hodie Christus natus est by Giovanni Gabrieli
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: Renaissance
10.
On Christmas Night: Rejoice and be merry by Robert Chilcott
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
11.
O little town of Bethlehem by Henry Walford Davies
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
12.
The Stable Door by Cecil Armstrong Gibbs
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
13.
Minuit, Chrétiens "O holy night" by Adolphe Adam
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: Romantic
Written: France
14.
In the bleak mid-winter by Harold Edwin Darke
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; England
15.
The Christ-child by Gabriel Jackson
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
16.
Nativity Carol by John Rutter
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1963; England
17.
Jingle Bells by James S. Pierpont
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: Romantic
Written: 1857
18.
Christmas-tide by Robert Chilcott
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
19.
I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Period: 20th Century
20.
Carol Medley by Jonathan Rathbone
Conductor:
Jeremy Backhouse
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vasari Singers
Sound Samples
On Christmas Night (text by Traditional): On Christmas Night: I. This is the truth (I)
Gabriel's Message (arr. J. Rathbone)
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (arr. J. Sandstrom)
Hymne a la Vierge, Op. 24
On Christmas Night (text by W. Ballet and F.X. Gruber): On Christmas Night: VI. Sweet was the song
Of the Father's Heart Begotten (arr. D. Willcocks)
Hodie Christus natus est a 10
On Christmas Night (text by Traditional): On Christmas Night: VII. Rejoice and be merry
O little town of Bethlehem
Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night) (arr. J.E. West)
Jingle Bells (arr. B. Parry)
I Believe in Father Christmas (arr. J. Rathbone)
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 2 Customer Reviews )
A Christmas Dream January 16, 2013
By Joseph Erdeljac (West Chester, PA) See All My Reviews
"The Vasari Singers under Jeremy Backhouse is the star of this recording. Each and every delightful and varied selection is performed with deep feeling and emotion and impeccably executed. When putting on this recording one wants to just sit and listen and soak it all in over and over again. A wonderful addition to the Christmas repertoire."
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Mesmerizing. Magnificent. Heavenly. December 13, 2012
By Daniel L. (El Cajon, CA) See All My Reviews
"I adore this disc. It is instantly my favorite Christmas disc of the year."
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