COSONAUTS!
It's time for #VoltronicChoralChristmas 🎄 where I share my favorite Christmas Choral music with the CoSo Community.
These are my favorite settings, arrangments, and performances for each of thiese pieces.
PSA - This will be a very long thread. Enjoy!
I just HAVE to start with this one.
H J Gauntlett - Once in Royal David's City
Harmonised by A H Mann; Descant and organ part by David Willcocks
The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge recorded in Trinity College Chapel
Conductor: Stephen Layton
Soprano: Molly Noon
Organ: Harrison Cole
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
Elizabeth Poston - Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Greg Funfgeld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u__CtM2Rjjs
Franz Biebl - Ave Maria
Cantus
John Rutter - What Sweeter Music
The Cambridge Singers
City of London Sinfonia
John Rutter
Michael Praetorius - Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
The Gesualdo Six
(at Ely Cathedral)
I recommend listening to the traditional harmonization of this carol by Praetorius first, as it is the basis for this piece (see previous reply).
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)
Tomás Luis de Victoria - O Magnum Mysterium
Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene
Most of you will know this carol in a modernized, minor-key arrangement. Here it is in its authentic modal, irregular metered glory.
The Coventry Carol
Sospiri Choir
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.
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
Gustav Holst - In the Bleak Midwinter
Tenebrae
Nigel Short, conductor
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
Eric Whitacre - Lux Arumque
Eric Whitacre Singers
Morten Lauridsen - O Nata Lux
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Paul Salamunovich, conductor
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (arr. Molly Ijames)
BYU Singers
I just came across this stunning arrangement. The original Irish Mixolydian-Dorian melody is tastefully embellished and set over a modern harmonic bed. And that soloist!!
The Wexford Carol, arr. Michael McGlynn
ANÚNA
Aisling McGlynn, soloist
#VoltronicChoralChristmas
#cosomusic
#cosochoral
#cosoclassical
