Catalogue

Summary:

Following the success of the beautiful a cappella choral album Peace: A Choral Album for our Times (AV 0039), the Handel and Haydn Society offers a seasonal offering that once again fuses the familiar with new works which are destined to inspire the festive imagination. Sample Jennifer Higdon’s atmospheric O Magnum Mysterium with glasses and chimes, or Eric Whitacre’s harmonious Lux aurumque, alongside longtime favourites such as Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming and The Coventry Carol in a unique arrangement with hand bells. Another special feature is the world premiere recording of Tom Vignieri’s Hodie Christus natus est, commissioned for the Handel and Haydn Society. For the ensemble’s Welsh-born Music Director Grant Llewellyn this recording is a deeply personal project, recapturing the annual spirit of caroling, maintaining tradition whilst forging new frontiers.

Tracklist:

1. Jan Pieterszoon SWEELINCK (1562 – 1621)
Hodie Christus natus est (2:56)

2. ANONYMOUS
There is no rose (3:47)

3. Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637 – 1707)
In dulci jubilo (5:35)

4. Michael PRAETORIUS (1571 – 1621)
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming (2:30)

5. Peter CORNELIUS (1824 – 1874)
The three kings * (3:03)

William WALTON (1902 – 1983)
6. What cheer? (1:19)
7. All this time (1:49)
8. King Herod and the cock (2:14)
9. Make we joy now in this fest (4:31)

10. Herbert HOWELLS (1892 – 1983)
A Spotless Rose * (3:33)

11. Eric WHITACRE (b. 1970)
Lux aurumque (4:06)

William MATHIAS (1934 – 1992)
12. A Babe is Born (3:28)
13. Sir Christèmas (1:33)

14. Franz GRUBER (1787 – 1863)
Silent Night (3:24)

15. Jennifer HIGDON (b. 1962)
O Magnum Mysterium (7:53)

16. Charles IVES (1874 – 1954)
A Christmas Carol (2:05)

17. Daniel PINKHAM (b. 1923)
Sweet Music (4:48)

18. Ned ROREM (b. 1923)
While all things were in quiet silence (2:59)

19. ANON arr. Steve Pilkington
The Coventry Carol (4:11)

20. Virgil THOMSON (1896 – 1989)
O my Deir Hert (2:37)

21. ANON
Deck The Hall (1:25)

22. Tom VIGNIERI (b. 1961)
Hodie Christus natus est ** (4:41)
Total time: 73:54

** World premiere, commissioned by Grant Llewellyn
for the Handel and Haydn Society Chorus
* Christòpheren Nomura, baritone
Recorded 11 – 13 April 2005, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Producer: Andrew Keener
Engineer: James T. Donahue
Mastering Engineer: Dr. Toby Mountain