Choral Music (Christmas) - FINZI, G. / RUTTER, J. / HOWELLS, H. / PEACOCK, A. (Music on Christmas Morning) (Vasari Singers, M. Ford, Backhouse)

Christmas is a time for special musical experiences, from gentle traditional carols to rousing calls for worship. This recording fully represents the Vasari Singers’ renowned seasonal programmes, mixing familiar festive fun with newly inspired creations such as the world premiere recording of Helena Paish’s beautiful setting of words by the youngest of the Brontë sisters. From the evocative narrative of Finzi’s In Terra Pax to the joyous potpourri of A Merry Little Christmas, this, like the Vasari Singers’ previous Christmas release, A Winter’s Light (Naxos 8.573030), is a recording to treasure.

Tracklist

Finzi, Gerald
Ford, Martin - Arranger
Bible - New Testament - Lyricist
Bridges, Robert Seymour - Lyricist
Somerville, Jocelyn (soprano)
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
1In Terra Pax, Christmas Scene, Op. 39 (arr. M. Ford for 2 voices, choir and organ)15:58
Somerville, Jocelyn (soprano)
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Traditional
Willcocks, David - Arranger
Traditional - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
2On Christmas Night, "Sussex Carol" (arr. D. Willcocks for choir and organ)01:47
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Rutter, John
Rutter, John - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
3Christmas Lullaby (version for choir and organ)04:56
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Howells, Herbert
Winkworth, Catherine - Lyricist
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
4A Spotless Rose03:15
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Peacock, Adrian
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
5Venite, Gaudete!02:13
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Paish, Helena
Brontë, Anne - Lyricist
Somerville, Jocelyn (soprano)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
6Music on Christmas Morning03:56
Somerville, Jocelyn (soprano)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Rutter, John
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
7Dormi, Jesu05:17
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Chilcott, Bob
Traditional - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
8Les anges dans nos campagnes (Angels, from the realms of glory)03:08
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Traditional
Traditional - Lyricist
Willcocks, David - Arranger
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
9Quelle est cette odeur agréable? (Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing?) (arr. D. Willcocks for voice, choir and organ)04:10
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Traditional
Nicholson, Stuart - Arranger
Woodward, George Ratcliffe - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
10Ding Dong! Merrily On High (arr. S. Nicholson for choir and organ)02:41
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Rutter, John
Rutter, John - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
11Candlelight Carol (version for choir and organ)04:23
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Llewellyn, William
Traditional - Lyricist
Woodward, George Ratcliffe - Lyricist
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
12London Waits (Past Three O'clock)04:42
Williams, Roderick (baritone)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Farrington, Iain
Traditional - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
13Nova, nova04:10
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (organ)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Traditional
Traditional - Lyricist
Panufnik, Roxanna - Arranger
Limb, Elizabeth (soprano)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
14Sleep, Jesus, Sleep (Spy, Isuse, Spy) (arr. R. Panufnik for voice, choir and piano)04:12
Limb, Elizabeth (soprano)
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Bernard, Felix
Berlin, Irving
Pierpont, James Lord
Martin, Hugh
Styne, Jule
Pierpont, James Lord - Lyricist
Blane, Ralph - Lyricist
Smith, Richard Bernhard - Lyricist
Richards, Goff - Arranger
Cahn, Sammy - Lyricist
Berlin, Irving - Lyricist
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
15Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Winter Wonderland - Let it Snow - White Christmas - Jingle Bells (arr. G. Richards for choir and piano as A Merry Little Christmas)05:08
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
Traditional
Traditional - Lyricist
Chilcott, Bob - Arranger
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)
16We Wish You a Merry Christmas (arr. B. Chilcott for choir and piano)01:45
Vasari Singers (Choir)
Ford, Martin (piano)
Backhouse, Jeremy (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 01:11:41