English
(late 13th C) Gabriel from heven-king [3'07]
Michael PRAETORIUS (b.1609) Es ist ein ros entsprungen
[7'19]
Michael PRAETORIUS (b.1609) En natus est Emanuel
German
(late 15th C) In dulci jubilo
English
(late 15th C) The seven joys of Mary [3'48]
Piae CANTIONES (b.1582) Joseph, lieber Joseph
mein [2'25]
Trad., French
Nous void dans la ville - II est ne - Les Anges
dans nos campagnes - Touro-louro-louro! Lou gau canto [6'02]
Jacob OBRECHT (c.1450-1505) Den haghel ende die
calde snee [3'55]
Piae CANTIONES (1582) Gaudete, Christus est natus
Henry PLAYFORD (late 17th C) The old year now
away is fled [1'28]
Anthony HOLBORNE (b.1599) Almain:
The night watch [1'45]
Trad., French
Quittez pasteurs [2'03]
Thomas RAVENSCROFT (b.1611) Remember,
O thou man [2'58]
Anthony HOLBORNE (b.1599) Pavan:
Heigh-ho holyday [1'53]
Galliard: As it fell on a holy eve
English
(1642) Drive the cold winter away [2'45]
Anthony HOLBORNE (b.1599) Pavan:
The cradle [5'24]
Galliard: The new-yeeres gift
Flemish
(16th C) Er ist een kindeken geboren op d'aard
[3'46]
Trad., Cornish
The Sans Day carol
Trad., English
The Gloucestershire wassail [2' 12]
This joyful release from Saydisc is a mixture
of Christmas music and carols from primarily the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. It features a combination of actual carols
French and Flemish pastoral Noel tunes, songs of pagan origin
and religious music. By the way, the word originally indicated
a round dance, but in fifteenth century started to change its
meaning to refer to popular songs and dances that celebrated
the several religious festivals of the year. We also hear seasonal
instrumental interludes - such as would be played by City Waits
- official town musicians and watchmen - throughout Europe.
Mixed in are works by composers such as Michael Praetorius,
Thomas Ravenscroft, Josef Obrecht and Anthony Holborne.
The York Waits are here joined by Robin Jeffrey
and Richard Wistreich. Wistreich has a good strong voice which
is particularly robust and booming in the Gaudete, Christus
est natus (second part of track 6). His intonation is occasionally
a tiny bit edgy, and his timbre a little rough, but in the case
of this particular disc, this adds to the feeling of a traditional,
old-fashioned, slightly rustic, Christmas celebration.
The disc opens with the thirteenth century Gabriel
from heven-king. It includes a number of songs and tunes,
most of which will be known and loved by listeners: Joseph,
lieber Joseph mein, The Gloucestershire wassail,
the tune of Greensleeves (to which The Old now away
is fled is sung), Remember, O thou Man, the Sans
Day Carol, and Drive the cold winter away. A few
less familiar melodies thrown in as well.
The disc is a good one – the playing from the
York Waits is excellent and there is a pleasingly celebratory
atmosphere. The combination of instruments is also lovely -
they include hurdy gurdies, smallpipes, bagpipes, shawms, sackbuts,
pipe and tabor, and so on. Some of the songs included are splendid
(Quittez pasteurs is particularly delightful) – yet a
little more exultation in the music-making perhaps would not
go amiss.
Em Marshall
The York Waits, Robin
Jeffrey (lute, guitar, cittern and theorbo), Richard Wistreich (voice)
