.
The choir of Jesus College Cambridge, founded in 1496, is distinctive
in maintaining two choirs: the Chapel Choir, which is made up
of boy choristers and adult male singers; and the College Choir,
formed in 1982, which has female undergraduates for its top
line. The adult male singers form the ‘back row’ for both choirs.
In addition to the weekly schedule of choral services, members
of the Choirs enjoy concerts, recordings, broadcasts and foreign
tours. Their recording of Charles Wood’s St. Mark’s Passion
got a very favourable review from Michael
Cookson.
The booklet is very well presented. I read and hear constantly
that CDs of vocal music are released with no words or background
notes; not so here. There is an explanation concerning the title,
summaries of each carol and their composers, texts, biographies
of the main participants, and names of the entire choir. This
is how CD booklets should be; the same information is available
on Signum’s web site but having such clearly printed texts is
first rate.
Mark Williams’ wisely selected programme blends favourite carols
with lesser known works beginning with “Jesus Christ the Apple
tree”, followed by McKie’s “We wait for thy loving kindness”,
written for the Royal Wedding of 1947, an inspiring piece gorgeously
sung. Impressive too is “I sing of a maiden” by Patrick Hadley,
a close friend of Vaughan Williams. The splendid acoustics are
very faithfully captured on “Advent Prose” and “There is no
rose”. Britten’s moving “Hymn to the virgin” was written when
he was only 16 and was new to me. I was very taken with “Bright
Star carol” by Nico Muhly before we come to the familiar “In
the Bleak Midwinter” with fine treble and tenor solos. “Tomorrow
shall be my dancing day” is one of my favourites, is at just
the right pace and has great clarity in the singing.
Bob Chilcott, a King’s singer has written an excellent piece
in “The Shepherd’s Carol” and this is followed by an original
arrangement of “I saw three ships” by Simon Preston, who I remember
from his time at Christ Church Oxford as Organist and Choirmaster.
I didn’t know “The little road to Bethlehem” and as the notes
say, it is very touching. “Away in a manger” sung unaccompanied
shows off the prowess of the combined choirs. A very fine rendition
of William Mathias’s lively “Sir Christèmas” is succeeded by
John Tavener’s popular “The Lamb” one of the best renditions
I’ve heard. Thundering organ from Timothy Lambourn heralds a
tour de force on the tune “Of the father’s heart begotten”,
one to play loud! In line with the concept of Journey is “Epiphany”
by Judith Bingham written in 1996.This shows the College choir
to good effect.
Herbert Howells’ “Here is a little door” is a good example of
this fine English composer as is “Bethlehem Down” by Peter Warlock
which won “The Daily Telegraph” carol competition; both are
glorious here. Many will remember the late Geoffrey Burgon’s
“Nunc Dimmittis” from “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”. This is one
of the highlights of this disc as the choristers combine with
trumpet and organ. The final item is the eight part “Hymn to
the Creator of Light” by John Rutter. It’s a first-rate example
of this composer’s work; the choral singing is superb.
I really enjoyed this record and looked forward to playing it
often. The excellence of the singing coupled with the aptness
of the selection make this collection special. It deserves to
do well. There’s something distinctive about a College Choir
and they are to be congratulated on this recording.
A very well chosen selection of Christmas Choral music magnificently
sung.
David R Dunsmore
Full Contents:
1 “Jesus Christ the apple tree” Elizabeth POSTON (1905-1987)
College Choir Emma Walton soprano solo [3:05]
2 “We wait for thy loving kindness” William McKIE (1901-1984)
Robert Dixon organ Alexander Beetschen baritone solo [2:32]
3 “I sing of a maiden” Patrick HADLEY (1899-1973) Choristers
Robert Dixon organ [2:43]
4 ”Advent prose” Judith WEIR (b.1954) College Choir [1:43]
5 “There is no rose” John JOUBERT (b.1927) College Choir
[2:29]
6 “Hymn to the Virgin” Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) Olympia
Hetherington soprano Frances Burn alto Edward Leach tenor
Matthew Smith bass [3:18]
7 “Bright star carol” Nico MUHLY (b.1981) Combined Choirs
Robert Dixon organ [3:52]
8 “In the bleak midwinter” Harold DARKE (1888-1976) Combined
Choirs Timothy Lambourn organ Alasdair Austin treble solo Jaliya
Senanayake tenor solo [4:28]
9 “Tomorrow shall be my dancing day” John GARDNER (1917-2011)
Combined Choirs Timothy Lambourn organ [2:06]
10 “The Shepherd’s Carol” Bob CHILCOTT (b.1955) Combined
Choirs [2:54]
11 “I saw three ships” Trad. arr. Simon PRESTON (b.1938)
Combined Choirs Timothy Lambourn organ Nico Bryan treble solo
Edward Leach tenor solo [2:03]
12 “The little road to Bethlehem” Michael HEAD (1900-1976)
Robert Dixon organ [3:00]
13 “Away in the manger” W.J. KIRKPATRICK (1838-1921)
Combined Choirs [2:56]
14 “Sir Christèmas” William MATHIAS (1934-1992) Combined
Choirs
Timothy Lambourn organ [1:28]
15 “The Lamb” Sir John TAVENER (b.1944) College Choir
[3:26]
16 “Paean on ‘Divinum Mysterium’” John COOK (1918-1984)
Timothy Lambourn organ [4:20]
17 “Epiphany” Judith BINGHAM (b.1952) College Choir,
Robert Dixon organ [3:37]
18”Here is the little door” Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983)
College choir [4:03]
19 “Bethlehem Down” Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Combined
choirs [4:03]
20 “Nunc Dimittis” Geoffrey BURGON (1941-2010) Choristers,
Robert Dixon organ, Rebecca Crawshaw trumpet [2:45]
21 “Hymn to the creator of Light” John RUTTER (b.1945)
College choir [7:22]
Choir Of Jesus College, Cambridge/Mark Williams