Here are some of my favorite Christmas choral pieces. I will add more as we get closer to the 25th.
Peter Warlock - Bethlehem Down
Siglo de Oro, Dir. Patrick Allies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKtTFIkP9ck
In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Pearsall)
The Cambridge Singers
John Rutter
Franz Biebl - Ave Maria
Cantus
John Rutter - What Sweeter Music
The Cambridge Singers
City of London Sinfonia
John Rutter
Wow, this performance!
Michael Praetorius - Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
The Gesualdo Six
(at Ely Cathedral)
Tomás Luis de Victoria - O Magnum Mysterium
Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene
Most of you will know this carol in a modernized arrangement. Here it is in its authentic modal, irregular metered glory.
The Coventry Carol
Sospiri Choir
I cannot express how much I would love to sing this piece in this space.
Of the Father's Love Begotten - arr. Sir David Wilcocks
Ely Cathedral Choir
With all respect to John Rutter, THIS is the finest setting of this carol.
John Jacob Niles - I Wonder As I Wander - arr. Steve Pilkington
Westminster Williamson Voices of Westminster Choir College
James Jordan
Wake Awake, For Night is Flying - Philipp Nicolai, arr. F. Melius Christiansen
St. Olaf Massed Choirs
Anton Armstrong
John Gardner - Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
The Choir of the Magdalen College, Oxford
Bill Ives
I've always loved this particular setting of this text, in the way that it conveys the "mystery".
Francis Poulenc - O Magnum Mysterium
Robert Shaw Festival Singers
Robert Shaw, cond.
I recommend listening to the traditional harmonization of this carol by Praetorius first, as it is the basis for this piece (see above in this thread).
Jan Sandström - Det är en ros utsprungen
Siglo de Oro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86-ulHbApOM
Here is a decent overview:
https://en.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es_ist_ein_Ros_entsprungen_(Sandström)
#cosomusic
#cosochoral
#cosoclassical
In my humble opinion, THIS is the war-horse that should be sung by choirs during Advent; not the Hallelujah Chorus, which has nothing to do with the season.
Besides, Mendelssohn writes better for choirs.
Felix Mendelssohn - There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth (from Christus, Op. 97)
The Choirs of Blackburn Cathedral
Shaun Turnbull, organ
Samuel Hudson, conductor
^ Marking this thread #VoltronicChoralChristmas for later.
@voltronic high praise!
@voltronic Beautiful.
With all respect to King's Cambridge, this non-professional choir from Bethlehem, PA just flat out does this classic arrangement better.
O Come, All Ye Faithful - arr. Wilcocks
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Greg Funfgeld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvGbUIS7EIU
#cosomusic
#cosochoral
#cosoclassical