News of Great Joy: Christmas from St John's College, Oxford | The Choir of St John's College, Oxford; Christian Wilson (organ); David Bannister (director) | Resonus Classics | RES10348

News of Great Joy: Christmas from St John's College, Oxford

£12.99
Total playing time [54:15]

The Choir of St John's College, Oxford
Christian Wilson (organ)
David Bannister (director)

The Choir of St John’s College, Oxford, directed by David Bannister, sing music associated with Christmas, together with youthful work by Imogen Holst and Benjamin Britten.

Looking towards the sixtieth anniversary of Elizabeth Poston's Penguin Book of Carols (1965), initially undertaken with Ralph Vaughan Williams, the recording presents music associated with these two composers and the works they edited, alongside newer pieces exemplifying and revivifying the English carol tradition.

Album Booklet (PDF)

About the Artists: The Choir of St John's College Oxford; David Bannister

Tracklist

Peter Warlock (1894–1930)
1. What cheer? Good cheer!

Imogen Holst (1907–1984)
2. Nowell and Nowell

Philip W.J. Stopford (b.1977)
3. Lully, lulla, lullay

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
4. A Sussex Carol

John Rutter (b.1945)
5. All the Stars Looked Down

Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
6. In the bleak midwinter

Peter Warlock (1894–1930)
arr. Elizabeth Poston
7. I saw a fair maiden

Richard Rodney Bennett (1936–2012)
8. Puer nobis

Melchior Vulpius (c.1570–1615)
arr. David Bannister (b.1983)
9. Canon on Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen

Anonymous
10. Song of the Nuns of Chester

Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
11. ‘Corpus Christi Carol’
from A Boy was Born

Elizabeth Maconchy (1907–1994)
12. There is no Rose

Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)
13. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)
arr. Elizabeth Poston
14. Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen

Imogen Holst
15. ‘Gloria’ from Mass in A Minor

David Bednall (b.1979)
16. Ave Maria

Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
17. The Shepherd’s Carol

“

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Christmas Choice
'These intimate, companionable performances are strongly recommended as a perfect antidote to the more self-indulgent aspects of the modern Christmas.'

- BBC Music Magazine

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Christmas Choice
'These intimate, companionable performances are strongly recommended as a perfect antidote to the more self-indulgent aspects of the modern Christmas.'
BBC Music Magazine

'Fine singing here, with a few favourites popped in to hum along to while basting the turkey.'
Choir & Organ

'An enjoyable, thoughtfully prepared Christmas album.'
MusicWeb International

'David Bannister’s Choir of St John's College are especially winning in the unaccompanied numbers [...] and they negotiate the tight corners in Maconchy’s tricksy “There is no Rose” with aplomb. [...] Beautifully recorded too, the acoustic of the Balliol College chapel lending proceedings a warm glow.'
The Arts Desk

'The standard of performance is very accomplished with sure intonation, and very pleasing tone. The addition of a solo violin and a saxophone as well as the harp provide welcome added colours and the organ accompaniments of Christian Wilson are everything they should be: well balanced with the right amount of colour where needed. A most enjoyable disc to which one will want to return.'
British Music Society

© 2024 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2024 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10348
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262793855
Release date: 18 October 2024