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
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
@voltronic Very pretty!
@voltronic
Love it. Think I recognize a friend's son.
@voltronic How beautiful. Thank you...
@voltronic Stunning. Perfection.
@voltronic
Holy cow what year is this? Paul Salamunovich directed our HS choir camp back in 1980 ... if this is recent, he must be a centeniarian!
@MelissaHDavis
The video says it was uploaded 11 years ago, and Salamunovich conducted the Chorale until 2001.
@voltronic I like this. 🙂
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShyqHcWjPY
#cosomusic
#cosochoral
#cosoclassical