This
disc is an enjoyable and approachable collection of music
suitable for Christmas and winter but with originality amongst
the familiar. It features the choirboys of Christ Church
Oxford where I have enjoyed their singing at services over
forty years. I’ve also followed Howard Goodall’s progress
with great interest since his student days, at Christ Church
and in the band “Halfbrother”. His piece lies at the centre
of this collection of well known choral pieces. The record
was made at a North Oxford Church rather than Christ Church
and the sound throughout is A1. This is an ideal record for
an uncle or aunt (or nephew or niece) who would like something
both familiar and slightly different at Christmas.
This
is very much a record for the long winter evenings or to
play on Christmas Day prior to cracking open a bottle and
with the fire crackling in the grate! Here we have the boys
only, without the men and instead of the organ the splendid
Catrin Finch on the harp.
The
set commences with two familiar pieces by Franck and Gounod
and gives the listener time to adjust to the sound of trebles
and harp. Psalm 23 is not Goodall’s brilliant “Vicar of Dibley” version
but one by Schubert. As a reviewer recently exclaimed I
didn’t know this existed. Note to myself:- must look
through the 40 CD Hyperion collection! Ave Maria is
charming and reminds me of the final sequence of “Fantasia”.
Other standouts are Cantique de Jean Racine which
the full choir gave us last term, and Handel’s Largo which
works very well as a solo. I wonder if young Joe Armon-Jones
who performs this very well is destined to become another
Andreas Scholl, whose version is sublime? The other soloist
Gregory Bannan alternates with Joe at the start of Fauré’s Ave
Verum. The two voices work beautifully with the harp
as accompaniment. This deserves regular playing on Classic
FM this December!
The
centre-piece of the disc is Winter Lullabies. This
six movement work begins cheerfully with Thomas Campion’s Now
Winter nights enlarge with fine singing by the choir
and harp. Stille Nacht has a different tune to the
familiar and is excellent and has touches of magic. This
is followed by “Crossing the border” where the listener recognizes
that the mood has changed from the optimistic start. Theo
Dorgan’s inspiration is new to me but I recognize his Irish
origins. This makes for a refreshing surprise and again the
engineers have artistically captured the voices and harp;
not always easy. We are moved to the Dominican Republic for Duérmete
mi niño which means, ‘Go to sleep little baby”. It’s quite lively and upbeat
if the purpose is to get the little darling to sleep! Once
again the mood changes with our friend Anon’s Sorrowful
Lullaby. The combination of voices and
harp again evokes a bleak snow-filled landscape. It’s a fine example of how
successful Stephen Darlington has been in producing a first
rate choir whilst maintaining the boys’ enthusiasm and dedication.
As the notes point out “richly robust”!
This
fine sequence ends with Goodall’s Lullaby
of winter which very effectively draws
together ideas from the previous movements. The words as
well as the music are
startlingly powerful and challenging as well as affirmative. “That
for every helpless kid there are two endings. One where we
heard the cry, one where we won’t.” In a city where among
the spires are three thousand homeless people and as I’m
aware from my full time work, many victims of neglect and
abuse, these are chilling words from the young choir. Christmas
has a hard edge to it and by understanding that reality we
come to understand its joys better. I was really impressed
and knocked out by this piece. If that is all you hear I
urge you to do so, but you’d miss a fine and inventive collection.
David R Dunsmore
Howard Goodall website
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The Boys
of Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford/Stephen
Darlington 
