Kenneth LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
“Lully, lulla” [3:27]
Philip RADCLIFFE
(1905-1986) “The Oxen” [2:43]
William BYRD (1540-1623)
“Lullaby, my sweet little baby” [6:09]
Sir John TAVENER (b.1944)
“The Lamb” [3:56]
Chris CHIVERS
(b.1967) “Ecce puer” [2:04]
Morten LAURIDSEN
(b.1943) “O magnum mysterium” [6:46]
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958 “The truth sent from above” [2:59]
Eric WHITACRE (b.1970) “Lux
Aurumque” [3:57]
Gustav HOLST
(1874-1934) “Lullay my liking” [3:41]
Francis POULENC
(1899-1963) “O magnum mysterium” [3:37]
Sir John TAVENER
(b.1944) “O, Do not move” [1:49]
Giovanni da PALESTRINA (1526-1594)
“Alma redemptoris mater” [2:42]
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY
(1848-1918) “Welcome, Yule!” [1:11]
Thomas RAVENSCROFT (1582-1635)
“Remember, O thou man” [2:27]
Elizabeth POSTON (1905-1987)
“Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” [2:59]
Tomas Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611)
“Ave Maria” [4:44]
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1892) “The Crown of Roses” [2:37]
Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930)
“Bethlehem Down” [5:12]
Sir John TAVENER
(b.1944) “Today the Virgin” [2:37]
The Rodolfus Choir, founded in 1984, is made up of singers aged
from 16 to 25. They have been chosen from past and present members
of the Eton Choral Courses as prospective choral scholars. Many
members of the Choir are choral scholars; some are at Music
College, and most hope to make a career in music. Several of
their discs have been reviewed favourably on Music Web International
and John Quinn very much enjoyed their “Bach B Minor Mass” (review).
The present recording was released last year with BBC Music
Magazine and now comes as a full price CD (and well worth it).
It is not to be confused with a previous disc “ A Christmas
Collection” made in 2002. There was also a BBC CD of Bach Christmas
music recorded in 2005 in Eton Chapel.
On this excellent CD Ralph Allwood has chosen old favourites,
lesser known carols and Renaissance pieces by the likes of Byrd
and Victoria, together with works by Poulenc, Tavener and Lauridsen.
The music selected fits this splendid choir like a glove and
demands the listener’s full attention; certainly not a disc
for background sound; which I hate anyway!
The booklet is exemplary and has easy to read full texts, details
on all the items, a short interview with Ralph Allwood, biographies
and the names of the entire choir. Daniel Jeffe who writes on
the works explains clearly how the compositions came to be and
their influences. All very informative and will lead many to
explore more by the composers.
Listening to the disc, one is immediately struck by the well
blended sound of the choir. The two twentieth century pieces
are sublime. Kenneth Leighton composed ““Lully, lulla” when
he was only 18 and like Philip Radcliffe followed the tradition
of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Both these carols show off the strengths
of the choir with the splendid female singers counter-balancing
the tenors and basses. “Lullaby, my sweet little baby” by one
of my favourite composers, William Byrd shows off the skills
of his polyphonic style. I’ve known John Tavener’s “ The Lamb
“, set to words by William Blake, for over twenty years and
here is fresh and vital as is his “O, Do not move” which was
new to me. The final Tavener item the lively and uplifting “Today
the Virgin” closes the recital. It was written in 1989, with
words by Mother Thekla, (1918-2011) who had a huge influence
on Tavener. These show the strong inspiration of the Russian
Orthodox Church to which he was converted in 1977. My grandparents
knew the Tavener family at a Presbyterian Church in Hampstead.
Eric Whitacre is a modern composer who I got to know through
“This Marriage” sung at a cousin’s wedding; my introduction
to this composer. “Lux Aurumque” has an ethereal quality and
is beautifully sung here. It is deservedly one of his most popular
works. “The Crown of Roses” by Tchaikovsky will surprise those
unaware of the composer’s church music, which is considerable
despite his doubts of faith, and could be a good example of
“ Guess the composer?’ It is followed by Warlock’s popular “
Bethlehem Down” sung very soulfully here, although I thought
it slower than I was used to. Along with Carol service staples
Allwood has chose Christmas pieces by Palestrina “Alma redemptoris
mater” a double-chorus motet and Lauridsen’s “O magnum mysterium”;
both handsomely done. Lauridsen says he wanted" a quiet
song of profound inner joy, a piece to resonate immediately
and deeply into the core of the listener, to illumine through
sound” and for this listener he certainly has. Chris Chivers,
presently a London vicar has produced a fine carol in “Ecce
puer” helped by his time at Kings College School Cambridge;
I look forward to hearing more from him.
“Lullay my Liking” is ravishing, and “The truth sent from above”
with fine solos, represent English music stalwarts Holst and
Vaughan Williams. Poulenc’s “O magnum mysterium” is popular
this year on Christmas records and quite rightly so! Hubert
Parry’s cheerful “Welcome Yule” seems almost to be over before
it starts. Its good to hear music from Thomas Ravenscroft and
it fits well between the Parry and a refined rendition of the
appealing “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. Thomas Luis de Victoria
is regarded by many as the eminent composer of his era and his
“Ave Maria” is sung quite gloriously.
From start to finish this is a superb recital and I’m delighted
it is available widely to the public. The test of a good CD
is wanting to play it again immediately and this is certainly
one. A Christmas record to be delighted to give or receive!
David R Dunsmore
The Rodolfus Choir/Ralph Allwood