Album

In this compilation of music from previously released Christmas albums, John Rutter writes that his intent is to create a collection that reflects the variety of the Christmas season—the religious and the secular, the contemplative and the festive—and is fully successful in gathering selections that are diverse, but fit well together. The Cambridge Singers have a sweet sound and sing with full but pure, straight tone that's ideal for this repertoire. Many of the songs and carols are a cappella, but some are accompanied with delicacy by the London Sinfonietta, and Rutter conducts with a soft-edged suppleness. Rutter's own pieces are prominently featured; eight of the twenty pieces are his, as well as several of the arrangements. His secular song "Blow, blow, thou winter wind" is one of the album's highlights—a lovely and evocative setting of a text from As You Like It—and his "Candlelight Carol" and "What Sweeter Music" are fast becoming classics with amateur choirs. Harold Darke's "In the bleak mid-winter" and Richard Rodney Bennett's "Lullay mine liking" are also outstanding examples of Anglican anthems. The album includes non-English fare, including pieces by Victoria, Palestrina, and Poulenc. The sound is warm and resonant. The album should be of interest to anyone looking for a mellow, beautifully sung collection of Christmas music other than the most familiar carols.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
John Rutter Composer Candlelight Carol Work Recorded 1985 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
1	Candlelight Carol	4:06			$0.99
Tomás Luis de Victoria Composer O magnum mysterium (a4) Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
2	O magnum mysterium (a4)	4:00			$0.99
John Rutter Composer When Icicles Hang Work Recorded 1991 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
3	Blow, blow, thou winter wind	3:52			$0.99
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Composer Puer nobis, for chorus Work Recorded 2004 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
4	Puer nobis, for chorus	2:26			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Magnificat, for soprano, chorus and orchestra Work Recorded 1991 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
5	2.Of a Rose, a lovely Rose	5:05			$0.99
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Composer Lullay Mine Liking, for soloists and chorus Work Recorded 2004 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor, Clare Wilkinson Alto, ben Breakwell Tenor, Sam Evans Bass, Elin Manahan Thomas Soprano
6	Lullay Mine Liking, for soloists and chorus	3:37			$0.99
Harold Edwin Darke Composer In the Bleak Midwinter (carol) Work Recorded 1985 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
7	In the Bleak Midwinter (carol)	4:32			$0.99
James R. Murray Composer Away in a Manger Work Recorded 1981 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
8	Away in a Manger	2:46			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Wild Wood Carol Work Recorded 1985 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
9	Wild Wood Carol	3:07			$0.99
Francis Poulenc Composer 4 Motets pour le temps de Noël, Op.152 Work Recorded 1988 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
10	3.Videntes stella	2:38			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Suite Antique, for flute, harpsichord and strings Work Recorded 2003 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, Andrew Nicholson Flute, John Rutter Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, John Birch Harpsichord
11	5.Chanson	3:15			$0.99
John Rutter Composer What Sweeter Music Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
12	What Sweeter Music	4:18			$0.99
Sarum Chant Composer Veni, Redemptor Gentium, hymn Work Recorded 1993 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
13	Veni, Redemptor Gentium, hymn	2:45			$0.99
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Composer Hodie Christus natus est (a4) Work Recorded 1993 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
14	Hodie Christus natus est (a4)	2:08			$0.99
Francis Poulenc Composer 4 Motets pour le temps de Noël, Op.152 Work Recorded 1988 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
15	4.Hodie Christus natus est	2:00			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Les anges dans nos campagnes (French), carol (AKA Angels We Have Heard On High) Work Recorded 1981 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
16	Les anges dans nos campagnes (French), carol (AKA Angels We Have Heard On High)	2:18			$0.99
William Walton Composer 4 Christmas Carols, for chorus Work Recorded 1982 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
17	2.What Cheer?	1:18			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer Wassail Song ('Here We Come A-Wassailing'), carol Work Recorded 1985 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
18	Wassail Song ('Here We Come A-Wassailing'), carol	2:39			$0.99
John Rutter Composer When Icicles Hang Work Recorded 1991 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
19	Good ale	2:43			$0.99
John Rutter Composer The Very Best Time of Year Work Recorded 1985 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
20	The Very Best Time of Year	3:40			$0.99