A Belfast Christmas - RES10292

A Belfast Christmas

£12.99
Total playing time [67:59]

Listen on Apple Music    Listen on Spotify
Belfast Cathedral Choir
Gráinne Meyer (harp)
Jack Wilson (organ)
Matthew Owens (conductor & solo organ)

Choral music has always played a significant and central role at Belfast Cathedral, since its consecration in 1904. This strong choral tradition continues to this day with the recently formed all-adult, fully professional vocal ensemble. This ‘new’ cathedral choir under director Matthew Owens brings together some of the finest singers in Northern Ireland who lead the liturgy and worship of Belfast Cathedral and are featured here in their debut album for Resonus Classics.

Featuring a varied programme of seasonal carols from composers including Elizabeth Poston, John Rutter and Philip Ledger, this album celebrates Christmas from Northern Ireland’s national cathedral.

Album Booklet (PDF)

About the Artists: Belfast Cathedral Choir; Matthew Owens

Tracklist

Elizabeth Poston (1905–87)
1. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Philip Ledger (1937–2012)
2. The Voice of the Angel Gabriel

Gary Davison (b.1961)
3. Rorate coeli desuper! *

Philip Stopford (b.1977)
4. Adam lay ybounden *

Philip Moore (b.1943)
5. Immortal Babe *

John Ireland (1879–1962)
6. The Holy Boy
(A Carol of the Nativity)

Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)
arr. Erling Pedersen (b.1944)
7. A great and mighty wonder

Patrick Hadley (1899–1973)
8. I sing of a maiden

John Rutter (b.1947)
9. Mary’s Lullaby

Philip Stopford
10. Lullay, my liking *

Philip Moore
11. Watts’ Cradle Song

John Gardner (1917–2011)
12. A Gallery Carol, Op. 109, No. 4

Philip Wilby (b.1949)
13. Moonless darkness stands between *

Philip Ledger
14. Still, still, still

Elizabeth Poston
15. O Bethlehem

Philip Moore
16. In the bleak midwinter *

Philip Ledger
17. On Christmas night (Sussex Carol)

Philip Stopford
18. What shall we offer thee, O Christ *

Matthew Owens (b.1971)
19. Toccata on Good King Wenceslas

Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
20. Good King Wenceslas

“

'[...] it could well be the finest all-adult standing choir of its kind anywhere, with near-perfect vowel harmony, blend, enunciation, nuanced awareness of phrase and an exceptional, bright and pure soprano group.'

- Gramophone

'The choir’s tonal purity and impeccable tuning are a pleasure, bringing plangency and repose to Philip Stopford’s ‘Lullay, my liking’, and a welling splendour to Philip Wilby’s ‘Moonless darkness stands between’.'
BBC Music Magazine

'[...] it could well be the finest all-adult standing choir of its kind anywhere, with near-perfect vowel harmony, blend, enunciation, nuanced awareness of phrase and an exceptional, bright and pure soprano group.'
Gramophone

'All said, this is a superb new CD, designed to put all but the most Scrooge-like into a sympathetic festive mood.'
MusicWeb International

'Many of these fine recordings are world premieres.'
Lark Reviews

'A finely sung disc that brings a new flavour to old favourites.'
Planet Hugill

Credits
© 2021 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2021 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10292
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262793213
Cover image by Melinda Nagy (shutterstock.com)
Release date: 29 October 2021