Alan BULLARD (b.1947)
O Come, Emmanuel - Music for Advent &
Christmas
O Come, Emmanuel (2012) [39:33]
Ten Carols for Christmas:
A baby so small, a message so great (2008) [2:54]
A boy is born in Bethlehem (Puer natus) (2005) [2:25]
And all the stars looked down (2007)[2:38]
Hillside Carol (2000) [3:10]
The gracious gift (2008) [2:29]
This night (2008-09) [4:38]
Rose of such virtue (2011) [3:03]
Child in the manger, Lord of all (2009) [2:39]
A star as bright as day (2010) [2:39]
Merrily did the shepherds blow (2013) [4:27]
The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge/Sarah MacDonald
Timothy Parsons, John Bachelor (organ)
rec. 30 June-2 July 2014, Ely Cathedral
Texts included
REGENT REGCD456 [70:39]
In 2013 I
reviewed a disc of music by Alan Bullard, also made by
Sarah MacDonald and the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College. The principal piece
on their programme was his Lenten cantata,
Wondrous Cross (2011).
What I didn't know at the time was that this was the first of three such
cantatas that Bullard has written for different times in the church
calendar. There's a Christmas piece,
A Light in the Stable (2013)
and this present work, which is described as 'An Advent Celebration based on
the Great 'O' Antiphons'.
O Come, Emmanuel is designed either for liturgical use or as a
concert piece and it may be accompanied either by organ, an instrumental
ensemble or a small orchestra. The work is dedicated to Sarah MacDonald and
her choir and here they perform it in the liturgical version, which includes
four hymns in which the congregation may join. The organ accompaniment is
used.
In appraising
Wondrous Cross I had an advantage in that I had
recently sung in a performance of the work but all the music on this present
disc is new to me.
O Come, Emmanuel consists of 22 sections, many of them quite
short. All the music is accessible and Bullard has selected his texts well.
The congregational hymns are appropriate to the season, though at least one
of the tunes was unfamiliar, at least to me. There are some effective
sections for the chorus, such as 'Chanticleer', which is mainly robust and
dramatic. I also liked the section very near the end, 'And art thou come
with us to dwell' in which Bullard has a poem by the English poet Dora
Greenwell (1821-1882) sung by the female voices while the male voices sing
lines from the familiar hymn 'O come, O come, Emmanuel'. It works very
well.
The score knits together as a tapestry of Advent texts set to music that
fits the words well. I should imagine it comes across effectively when
experienced live though I'm not sure it's quite as convincing when heard on
disc. This is a piece that one has to experience - and take part in - live,
I think. Sarah MacDonald and her choir give a committed performance. I was
disappointed by the ending, however. The piece concludes with Charles
Wesley's great hymn 'Lo, He comes with clouds descending' sung to the noble
tune
Helmsley. Unfortunately, here the hymn is despatched at a pace
that's so swift as to rob the tune - and the words - of their majesty. I
don't know if the tempo was selected by the conductor or prescribed in the
score but either way I think it's a misjudgement; I felt a bit cheated.
Ten individual carols by Alan Bullard complete the disc. All are
attractive. I liked the irregular dancing rhythms of
A boy is born in
Bethlehem.
Hillside Carol is appealing and it was a nice idea
to include in a carol about the shepherds an obbligato recorder part, here
played by a member of the choir.
The gracious gift is a setting of
the old text which is perhaps better known as 'Balulalow'. Bullard describes
it as "a simple and gentle lullaby". This unaccompanied setting is very
attractive. Rather more unusual is
This night, which uses a
traditional Hebridean poem that mixes Christian and Pagan imagery. Bullard's
setting is powerful and imaginative; this piece makes a strong impact. The
programme closes with
Merrily did the shepherds blow. The outer
sections of this striking carol are energetic and jubilant but there's a
central oasis of lyrical calm before the musical high spirits resume.
This is a worthwhile disc, especially for choir directors and singers who
may be looking for some different material for their Christmas repertoire.
Alan Bullard's well-crafted music has been well served here.
John Quinn
