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With the Choral Scholars of King's College, Cambridge

QUIL401




£12.99 inc VAT

'This is essentially the choir minus the boys, letting their hair down in squelchy harmonised carols.  The first half is more straight-laced and includes Christmas motets by Byrd, Praetorius and others but it has nothing on the festive cheer to follow.'

The Organ Magazine    www.theorganmag.com
November 2000

This delightful seasonal disc features something for everything.  The first ten tracks are dedicated to music from the 17^th century and earlier, including Byrd's Ecce advenit, The Coventry Carol, and Praetorius's Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen.  The thirteen choral scholars who make up Collegium Regale sing with exquisite perfection, beautiful voices in complete control of the music.  There is always something magical about the sound of unaccompanied men's voices, and nowhere is this more apparent than on this disc.

If the first tracks are not perhaps immediately identified with Christmas, the remainder of the disc cannot fail to make even the most Scrooge-like feel completely in the Christmas spirit. With arrangements of six well known carols, which thoroughly exploit the men's voices, the listener is treated to familiar tunes in brilliant arrangements by Keith Roberts.  These manage to add something new and original every time whilst retaining the true character of the carols.  Finally, the disc closes on a lighter note, with a handful of catchy numbers including a delightful arrangement of Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, including the gentle 'swish' of the cymbals, brilliantly impersonated by the scholars.  Of exceptional originality is another Keith Roberts arrangement, this time of The Twelve Days of Christmas.  It certainly has to be heard to believe that such timeless classics as Auld Lang Syne and The Blue Danube can so easily incorporated into the music.  This is certainly more than music – it is sheer, heartfelt entertainment, which also combines absolute brilliance of musicianship.  White Christmas, The Christmas Song and We wish you a merry Christmas complete this perfect christmas disc.  From Byrd to Rudolf, it has it all.

The recording is first rate, possessing exceptional clarity, the gentle acoustic of Jesus College Chapel where the disc was recorded rounding the voices perfectly.  Quite strong stereo distinction between the singers adds further aural interest in this excellent disc.

'We begin this Yuletide celebration with a generous helping of Renaissance music, confidently and intelligently sung, well balanced and precise, before attention is turned to arrangements of well-known carols which appear dressed in imaginative harmonies, making a refreshing change from those one normally hears.

For the final six tracks, the choir wisks us away from the solemnity of Byrd and Victoria, eagerly transforming itself into effortless entertainment with a light-hearted musical extravaganza of items not usually found at a service of Nine Lessons and Carols.  Humour is ever near: there are playful references to Bing Crosby in White Christmas, while The Twelve Days of Christmas cheekily embraces Auld Lang Syne and a rather excited rendition of The Blue Danube.

The genuine atmosphere of enjoyment sensed throughout the disc is at its most apparent here, and in general it is to the singers' full credit that they tackle such a contrasted and entirely unaccompanied programme with such skill and success.  A rare opportunity to surprise a friend or loved one this Christmas with a disc that embraces Byrd and Bing Crosby.