Working List of Albums of "New" Christmas Carols
Compiled by R. Rojas
Updated October 12, 2024
We like lists here at the Christmas Carols Blog and here, we have listed recordings promoting "new" Christmas carols. Now "new" is relative and you will see recordings that were released more than 30 years ago listed. However, some of these carols in these recording were "new" at the time, and in the relative since of music history, the past forty years is still: new. For an example of the relativity of "new," see New College, Oxford. Despite its name, New College is one of the oldest of the Oxford colleges (1379). Do not forget it is a wonderful choir led by Robert Quinney, and for many years before that by Edward Higgenbotham.
Here, we did not post albums by individual composers which usually contain a host of new Christmas carols. We did not do this because we already have a working list dedicated to this which you can find at Working List Choral Recordings Focusing on Modern Composers' Christmas Works.
Descriptions are by record label unless indicated. Some changes made to make for easier on-screen reading. We have organized them by release date
1965
This recording was reissued in 1994, but was a reissue of a 1965 recording by the The Elizabethan Singers conducted by Louise Halsey. This shows us what was "new" in 1965.| A1 | I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In (ar. Simon Preston) | |
| A2 | The First Christmas (Elizabeth Flemming, music Peter Racine Fricker) | |
| A3 | Deck The Hall (arr. Hugo Cole) | |
| A4 | Dormi Jesu (Richard Rodney Bennett) | |
| A5 | Here We Come A-Wassailing (arr. John Joubert) | |
| A6 | Our Lady's Song | |
| A7 | Unto Us Born A Son (arr. Thomas Eastwood) | |
| A8 | There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue (John Joubert) | |
| A9 | We Wish You A Merry Christmas (arr. John Gardner) | |
| B1 | Silent Night (arr. Alan Ridout) | |
| B2 | The Boar's Head Carol (arr. Malcolm Williamson) | |
| B3 | Balulalow (Louise Halsey) | |
| B4 | Out Of Your Sleep Arise (Athony Milner) | |
| B5 | Ecce Puer (Bernard Naylor) | |
| B6 | What Cheer? (William Walson) | |
| B7 | From Heaven Winging (Basil Ramsey) | |
| B8 | Welcome Yule! (Peter Maxwell Davies) | |
| B9 |
| |
| B10 | The First Nowell |
Alleluya, a new work is come on hand - Peter Wishard
When Christ was born of Mary free - John Gardner
Remember thou art man - Arthur Oldham
Ding Dong! - G.R. Woodward
O Leave you sheep - arr. Kenneth Leighton
There may be a difference between the LP and the later reissued compact disc as I think the reissues has previously-unreleased recordings. Numbering of tracks may differ also.
1996
This recording by Polyphony under Stephen Layton catches the beginning of the modern Christmas carol composers.
The oldest of them, Herbert Howells and Peter Warlock, being born in the late 1800s, and the last to pass being John Byrt, who just recently passed in 2021.
The Howell's carols were written between 1918 and 1920. Walton's "What Cheer" was written in 1961. Warlock's "A Cornish Christmas Carol" was published in 1924. Warlock wrote "Bethlehem Down" for the Daily Telegraph Carol Competition in 1927. Of course, Warlock would die young in 1930.
Peter Wishart's "Allelya, A new Work is come on Hand" was composed in 1952. Leighton's carols, "The Star-song," "Ode of the birth of our savior," and "Lully, lulla" were written in 1956. He composed "A Hymn of the Nativity" in 1960. John Byrt wrote "All and some" in 1963. It was later sung at the annual Christmas service at Kings College Cambridge in 1969.
Richard Rodney Bennett wrote his Five Carols ("Out of your sleep," "There is no rose," "That younge child," and "Sussanni") in 1967. This represents a 49-year period of carol writing.
Label: Hyperion
1996
We are still looking for a description of this one with the composers and arrangers listed. Just from a first glance, we can see some Howard Blake and John Rutter.
2000
Although post millennium, we could not find a description of this recording, but we found what looks like a review. We will post it but will observe any take down requests. We put in paragraph breaks to make for easier on-line reading:
"The range of styles here is wide: from Spike Jones/King's
Singers jollity in John Harle's 'Mrs Beeton's Christmas Plum Pudding' to
austere meditation in Peter Maxwell Davies's 'One Star at Last'. So, if
'Carols for a New Millennium' is an indication of the way things are
heading (a big if), what does this disc tell us about the music of the
new age?
The answer seems to be that it will be a lot like the music of
the previous one, reflected in various kinds of distorting mirror - as
for instance in Judith Weir's 'Illuminare Jerusalem', with its wittily
evasive harmonic twists and turns.
A lot of this music glances
backwards: John Tavener - typically - to the choral chant of Orthodox
Church, Francis Grier to Warlock and Delius, Jerzy Kornowicz
(fleetingly) to the taped collage effects of the Sixties - though the
musical style of his 'Oczekiwanie' ('Waiting') is warmly approachable;
Harle's piece even comes with faked 78 rpm surface-noise.
Sensation-seekers will be disappointed, but I could imagine one or two
of these miniatures fitting cosily into the yearly broadcast Christmas
service from King's College, Cambridge: Steve Martland's invigorating
'Make We Joy', John Harbison's finely crafted and moving 'O magnum
mysterium', or Roxanna Panufnik's 'Sleep little Jesus' - an old Polish
carol enriched with subtly unpredictable harmonies.
The BBC Singers
approach all these pieces with their usual expertise and dedication, and
the recordings generally balance atmosphere and clarity to good effect."
Performance ****
Sound ****
| 1 | Bo Holten– | Nowell Sing We Now | 3:56 |
| 2 | Steve Martland– | From Lands That See The Sun Arise | 2:40 |
| 3 | Steve Martland– | Make We Joy | 2:36 |
| 4 | Steve Martland– | There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue | 4:38 |
| 5 | Carl Rütti– | I Wonder As I Wander | 2:15 |
| 6 | Judith Weir– | Illuminare, Jerusalem | 2:28 |
| 7 | Judith Bingham– | The Shepherd's Gift | 3:48 |
| 8 | Francis Grier– | Corpus Christi Carol | 3:44 |
| 9 | Thomas Adès– | The Fayrfax Carol | 4:31 |
| 10 | Conrad Susa– | The Shepherds Sing | 3:15 |
| 11 | Jean Belmont– | Nativitas | 2:33 |
| 12 | James MacMillan (2)– | Seinte Mari Moder Milde | 7:12 |
| 13 | John Tavener– | Today The Virgin | 3:01 |
| 14 | Jerzy Kornowicz– | Oczekiwanie (Waiting) | 9:09 |
| 15 | Richard Rodney Bennett– | Carol | 3:42 |
| 16 | Peter Maxwell Davies– | One Star, At Last | 3:33 |
| 17 | John Harbison– | O Magnum Mysterium | 2:17 |
| 18 | Roxanna Panufnik– | Sleep, Little Jesus, Sleep | 3:19 |
| 19 | Howard Goodall– | Romance Of The Angels | 4:32 |
| 20 | John Harle– | Mrs Beeton's Christmas Plum Pudding (Average Cost: 3 Shillings And 6d) | 4:08 |
2005
This album represents twenty-one years of carol writing all being commission carols for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge.
The first commission being from Lennox Berkeley (1983) and the last on this recording being from Judith Bingham (2004).
The Shepherd's Carol - Bob Chilcott
On Christmas Day to May Heart - Richard Rodney Bennett
God Would be Born in Thee - Judith Bingham
Bogorodistse dyevo (Hail Mary) - Arvo Part
Angels - Jonathan Harvey
In Wintertime - Lennox Berkley
Christmas Carol - Robin Holloway
The Three Kings - Jonathan Dove
What Sweeter Music - John Rutter
A Gathering - John Casken
Illuminare, Jerusalem - Judith Weir
One Star at Last - Peter Maxwell Davies
Carol for St. Steven - Alexander Goeher
The Birthday of They King - Peter Schulthorpe
Winter Solstice Carol - Giles Swayne
Seinte Mari moder milde - James MacMillan
The Gleam - Harrison Birtwistle
Christo Peremus Casntica - Diana Burrell
Spring into Winter - Johen Woolrich
The Fayrfax Carol - Thomas Ades
Swete Jesu - Nichlas maw
Pilgrim Jesus - Stephen Paulus
2005
When an ensemble like the BBC Singers, renowned for its commitment to
the music of our own time, sets out to record a Christmas CD you can be
sure that the repertoire will include material rather different from
the usual run of popular standards and arrangements!
One star at last includes eight new carols (six of them
specially-commissioned by BBC Radio 3), several premiere recordings, and
a selection of music – serious and light-hearted, contemplative and
joyful – by some of the leading British, European and North American
choral composers of the day.
"Astonishingly high standards of choral singing … excellent
performances and the organ contributions by Robert Quinney are all
splendid … Enthusiastically recommended" – Musicweb International.
1. Nowell Sing We Now - Bo Holten
2. From lands that see the sun arise - Steve Martland
3. Make we joy - Steve Martland
4. There is no Rose of such virtue - Steve Martland
5. I wonder as I wander - Carl Rütti
6. Illuminare, Jerusalem - Judith Weir
7. The Shepherd’s Gift - Judith Bingham
8. Corpus Christi Carol - Francis Grier
9. The Fayrfax Carol - Thomas Adès
10. The Shepherds Sing - Conrad Susa
11. Nativitas - Jean Belmont
12. Seinte Mari Moder Milde - James MacMillan
13. Today the Virgin - John Tavener
14. Oczekiwanie (Waiting) - Jerzy Kornowicz
15. Carol - Richard Rodney Bennett
16. One star, at last - Peter Maxwell Davies
17. O Magnum Mysterium - John Harbison
18. Sleep, little Jesus, sleep - Roxanna Panufnik
19. Romance of the Angels - Howard Goodall
20. Mrs. Beeton’s Christmas Plum Pudding - John Harle
Label Link.
2007
The album advertises itself as "new and favorite" it has some 19th Century carols, but also has a good deal of late 20th century composers. Among them Michael Head, Bob Chilcott, John Rutter, Kenneth Leighton, Jonathan Rathbone, Judith Weir, Morten Lauridsen, Paul Edwards, John Gardner, and more.
2007
A collection of new popular carols for Christmas sung in the cathedral
choral tradition. The simple 2000-year-old story of the Nativity
continue to inspire sublime music from the composers of our time. Here
all the familiar strands, the animals in the stable, the kings, the
shepherds, the cradle songs, the prophetic, the musical, and the dancing
and celebration are woven together in new colours for the new millennium.| 1 | Remember Bethlehem |
| 2 | Snows The Land Cover |
| 3 | One Cold Dark Night |
| 4 | Lute Book Lullaby |
| 5 | Jacob's Ladder |
| 6 | God Is Born (Fantasia On A Polish Carol) |
| 7 | Dawn Carol |
| 8 | Romance Of The Epiphany |
| 9 | In The Bleak Midwinter |
| 10 | Little Star Of Bethlehem |
| 11 | Der Wind Auf Leeren Strassen |
| 12 | Entre Les Boeufs Et L'ane |
| 13 | Our Blessed Lady's Lullaby |
| 14 | Shepherd's Carol |
| 15 | There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue |
| 16 | In The Manger (Fantasia On A Polish Carol) |
| 17 | The Lamb |
| 18 | What Child Is This? |
| 19 | Good King Wenceslas |
| 20 | Ninna-Nanna A Gesu Bambino |
| 21 | Come Sing And Dance |
| 22 | Love Divine
|
- Bax: Fantasias (2) on Polish Carols
- Browne, P A: The Lamb
- Darlington: Jacob's Ladder
- Forbes, S: There is no rose of such virtue
- Gant, A: What Child is this?
- Goodall, H: Der Wind auf leeren Strassen
- Goodall, H: Love Divine
- Goodall, H: Romance of Epiphany
- Howells: Come Sing and Dance
- Ives, C: A Christmas Carol
- Ives, C: Little Star of Bethlehem
- Madden, John: Lute Book Lullaby
- Mullinar: In the bleak mid-winter
- Poston: Entre les boeufs et l’âne
- Ridout, A: Snows the land cover
- Rose, B: Our Blessed Lady's Lullaby
- Routley: Entre le bœuf et l'âne
- Virgili: Ninna-nanna a Gesù bambino
- White, Peter: One cold, dark night
- White, Peter: The shepherd's carol
- Williamson: Dawn Carol
Label: Metronome
2007
More old than new, but some new carols on this album.
1 |
Sir Christemas - Mathias |
| 2 | How Shall I Fitly Meet Thee? - J.S. Bach |
| 3 | No Small Wonder - Wigmore/Edwards |
| 4 | Sweet Was The Song |
| 5 | Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant |
| 6 | Pastorcito Santo - De Vega/Rodrigo |
| 7 | See Amid The Winter's Snow - Caswell/Goss |
| 8 | In Tua Memoria |
| 9 | Tece Voda, Tece |
| 10 | Hark! Hark The Herald Angels Sing - Wesley/Burney |
| 11 | Ave Maria - Rachmoninov |
| 12 | Still, Still |
| 13 | Riu, Riu Chiu |
| 14 | Bailero |
| 15 | E La Don, Don Verges Maria |
| 16 | In The Bleak Mid-Winter |
| 17 | When Jesus Christ |
| 18 | The Lamb |
| 19 | A Gaelic Blessing - Rutter |
| 20 | Away In A Manger - Kirkpatrick, arr. Willcocks |
| 21 | Stille Nacht |
| 22 | A Merry Christmas - arr. Warrell |
Label:
Asv Living Era
2011
For a 2011-issued album, again, the "modern" can be relative. Most if not all of these composers/arrangers have passed on. None that I can see were born post-1940. Nevertheless, early twentieth centruy can still be considered "modern."
Label Description:
"One of the attractions of this disc is the variety of the
repertoire...Logical phrasing and clear articulation are among the
virtues of this choir, and these serve the repertoire on this disc well,
whether old or new.
Some of the best-known carols for full choir are
sung with vigour, but never exaggerated...The programme guarantees
almost 80 minutes of exquisite singing."
|
Once in Royal David's City - Henry John Gauntlett
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O Magnum Mysterium - William Byrd
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Ding Dong! Merrily On High - Charles Wood/Thoinot Arbeau
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A Babe Is Born - Gustav Holst
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Now Let Us Sing - Gustav Holst
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Jesu Thou the Virgin-born - Gustav Holst
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The Saviour of the World Is Born - Gustav Holst
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O Come All Ye Faithful -John Francis Wade
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Long Long Ago - Herbert Howells
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Sussex Carol - On Christmas Night - Trad.
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Out of Your Sleep - Sir Richard Rodney Bennettt
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The Holly and the Ivy - Trad.
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Lully Lulla Thou Little Tiny Child - Kenneth Leighton
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Torches - John Joubert
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Angelus Ad Virginem - Trad.
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This Is the Truth Sent from Above - Ralph Vaughn Williams
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Sing Lullaby - Contributor: E. Pettman
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In Dulci Jubilo - Trad.
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Before Dawn - Gustav Holst
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In the Bleak Midwinter - Rossetti/Harold Darke
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There Is No Rose - Gustav Holst
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Silent Night Holy Night - Gruber/John Joubert
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What Sweeter Music Can We Bring - Sir Richard Rodney Bennett
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A Spotless Rose - Howells
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing - arr. Willcocks
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Label Link on Presto Music.
2011
"A
typically intriguing and unusual programme from the Choir of Gonville
& Caius College, Cambridge, combining English works from the twelfth
to sixteenth centuries with medievally inspired carols by some of our
finest living composers.
From the
plangent innocence of William Sweeney’s The Innumerable Christ to the
shining antiphony of Diana Burrell’s Creator of the Stars of Night, this
selection will seduce and enchant.
The choral singing combines polish
with verve, and director Geoffrey Webber’s meticulous attention to
detail is floodlit by the bathing acoustics of St Anne’s Cathedral,
Belfast."
1. Creator of the Stars of Night - Diana Burrell
2. Annunciation - Judith Brigham
3. Adam lay y-bounden - Stuart MacRae
4. Edi beo thu, 13th-c English
5. Cradle Song - Richard Causton
6. That yonge child - Francis Pott
7. Quam pulchra es - John Dunstaple
8. Salus aeterna - Gabrial Jackson
9. Salvator muni Domine - 16th-c. English
10. To Bethlem they go - Howard Skempton
11. God would be born to thee - Judith Bingham
12. Tui sunt caeli - John Redford
13. Into this world, this day did come - Howard Skempton
14. The innumerable Christ - William Sweeney
15. Verbum Patris umanatur - 12th-c. English
16. Christo paremus cantica - Diana Burrell
17. Christmas Carol - Robin Holloway
18. Nowell sing we - 15th-c. English
19. Incarnation with shepherds dancing - Judith Bingham
20. Nowell sing we - Gabriel Jackson
"The two resident choirs of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and
their director Edward Wickham, join together to record this stunning and
evocative selection of contemporary Christmas carols.
The college can
boast having the first and only college-based Oxbridge girls' choir, and its own beautiful chapel in the very heart of Cambridge, provided
the venue for this debut recording of the recently founded St
Catharine's Girls' Choir.
Joined by the student choir, the album features premieres from such
composers as Richard Rodney Bennett, Roxanna Panufnik, Cecilia McDowall
and John Tavener. It also includes works specially written for the
Girls' Choir by Stevie Wishart and Christopher Fox."
- The Holly and the Ivy, for chorus & organ (R. R. Bennett)
-
Saint Ita's Lullaby, for chorus & organ (Nicola Lefanu)
-
Adaml lay ybounden, for chorus (Matthew Larkin)
-
There Is No Rose, for soprano, bass, chorus & organ (Giles Swayne)
-
Christmas Eve, carol for chorus & organ (Tansey Davies)
-
Nova! Nova! Ave fit ex Eva, for chorus (James MacMillan)
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Alma redemptoris mater, for chorus & organ (Roxanna Panfunik)
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Before the Paling of the Stars, for chorus & organ (Cecilia Mcdowall
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A Cradle Song, for chorus (John Tavener)
-
A Dream of Winter, for female chorus & organ (Christophe Fox)
-
Digging
(01:35)
-
Swedes
(02:31)
-
Thaw
(01:05)
-
Tall nettles
(01:20)
-
Hevene Quene, for chorus & organ
-
Carols (3), for female chorus & organ (Stevie Wishart)
-
Te Deum Laudamus
-
Let's be merry as bird on berry
-
Lullaby for Freya
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In the Stillness of a Church, for chorus & organ (Salley Beamish)
2015
"Following on from the universal critical acclaim of their first
album with Resonus (This Christmas Night - RES10113), the Choir of
Worcester College, Oxford - under the direction of Stephen Farr - * with
a second album of contemporary Christmas Carols.
Entitled Nowell sing
we, this new selection contains works from a wide variety of celebrated
composers including Gabriel Jackson, Peter Maxwell Davies, Lennox
Berkeley, Colin Matthews, Francis Pott, Edmund Rubbra, Richard Rodney
Bennett & Herbert Howells among many others, with no fewer than nine
world premieres. Also featured throughout the programme are the seven O
Antiphon Preludes for solo organ by Nico Muhly, performed here by
Stephen Farr on the organ of Keble College, Oxford."
1. Nowell, we sing - Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962)
2. The Virgin's Cradle Hymn - Edmund Rubra (d. 1986)
3. Sweet was the song - Lennox Berkeley (d. 1989)
4. O Antiphon Preludes O Sapientia - Nico Muhly (b. 1981)
5. Puer Nobis - R.R. Bennett (d. 2012)
6. Nova! nova! - John Scott (b. 1956)
7. O Antiphon Preludes - O Adonai - Nico Muhly
8. The Angels' Carol - Colin Matthews (b. 1946)
9. O mortal man - Herbert Howells (d. 1983)
10. O Antiphon Preludes - O Radix Jesse - Nico Muhly
11. Kings and Shepherds - Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
12. Lo, That is a marvellous change - Philip Moore (b. 1943)
13. O magnum mysterium - Giles Swayne (b. 1946)
14. O Antiphon Preludes - O Clavis David - Nico Muhly
15. Christ was born on Christmas Day - Haflidi Hallgrimson (b. 1941)
16. I saw three ships - R. R. Bennett
2015
"December, holds in its hands, many worlds of celebration as the
month unfolds with Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas and the eve of
the New Year.
Over the centuries a great deal of music has marked this
time of year, but very little has been added to the canon in recent
decades.
Gordon Getty inspired us with his composition of delightful new
Christmas carols to invite a group of American composers to celebrate
the season in music.
The resulting New Carols by Seven American
Composers, a rich and tuneful recording of new holiday classics for all
to share with their friends and families, features the work of Mark
Adams, Jake Heggie, Joan Morris and William Bolcom, David Garner, Luna
Pearl Woolf, John Corigliano, and Gordon Getty, who, in addition to his
Four Christmas Carols arranged Franz Grubers "Silent Night" for mixed
chorus and chamber orchestra, the culminating album track."
1. The Christmas Life - Mark Adamo2. On the Road to Christmas - Jake Heggie 2a. The Night if Freezing Fast 3. The Car Ride to Christmas 4. Good King Merrily on High 5. I Wonder as I Wander 6. The Road to Bethlehem 7. Christmas Time of Year
8. Carol (Neighbors, on this Frosty Tide) - Joan Morris and William Bolcom9. Three Carols - David Garner 9. Posada
10. O magnum mysterium
11. Jesus' song
12. How Bright the Darkness, A Winter Solstice Carol - Luna Pearl Woolf13. Four Christmas Carols - Gorden Getty 13. Call the Children (Hodie Christmas Natus Est)
14. The Snow Child
15. Candle on the Tree
16. Run to the Window
17. Christmas at the Cloisters18. Silent Night
Lable Link.
Label: Pentatone Music
2016
There is no Rose: Christmas in the 21st Century, Vocal Group Concert Clemens, Carsten Seyer-Hansen
Editor's note: There are about 15 composers and arrangers on this recording, with exception of three all still living composers (2023) most born after 1950ish.
The rose as the symbol of love runs as a theme throughout this album. The title of the recording “There is no Rose …” could suggest there being no more love in this sense in the 21 st Century, but the lyrics go on “… as is the Rose that bare Jesu. For in this rose contained was heaven and earth in little space. By that rose we may well see that he is God in persons three.”
Celebrating Christmas means celebrating the rose, i.e. love. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’
Though not on this recording, these words from the Gospel of John explain the origin of Christmas: in his unconditional love God sent his Son, the infant Christ, Branch of Jesse, to redeem us; Jesus is the little rosebud that sprang up from the frozen ground through the Virgin Mary, the symbol of purity.
Poets have often used her motherly tenderness to convey the message that God’s love is both personal and intimate. Against all odds this humble flower defied the deep midwinter and heralded a complete change – from death to life, from darkness to light, from winter to spring. We, with the shepherds from the hills, may give our love and hopes to this little rose of such virtue.
The music on “There is no Rose” is arranged and/or composed in the present century by mainly Danish and English composers. The idea is to present well-known and lesser-known music in fresh and appealing arrangements, many of which are hereby on record for the first time.
1. The Shepherd’s Carol - Bob Chilcott b.1955
2. Skyerne gråne -Thora Borch (1832-1923) arr. Søren K. Hansen b.1955)3. Veni, veni Emmanuel! -Trad. arr. Allan Gravgaard b.1984
4. O Radiant Dawn - James MacMillan b.19595. Es ist ein Ros - (Trad. arr Ole Kongsted b.1943)
6. Quem Pastores - Trad. arr. Nigel Short b.1965
7. And all the stars looked down - Alan Bullard b.1947
8. Mit hjerte altid vanker - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931), arr. Nadja Marie Schmedes Enevoldsen b.1988) 9. Cradle Song - Richard Causton b.1971
10. There is no Rose of such virtue - Bob Chilcott 11. En rose så jeg skyde - Trad. arr. Carsten Seyer-Hansen b.1971
12. In the bleak Midwinter - Gustav Holst (1874-1934) arr. Ola Gjeilo b.1978)
13. The Holly and the Ivy - Trad. arr Paul Hillier b.1949
14. Es ist ein Ros - Trad. 16th Century arr. Paul Hillier
15. We wish you a merry Christmas - Trad. arr Paul Hillier
https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100062-there-is-no-rose-christmas-in-the-21st-century/
2017
"'The Silver Stars at Play' is a collection of world premiere
recordings of contemporary Christmas carols sung by Kantos Chamber
Choir, directed by Elspeth Slorach.
The carols on the album are by
composers such as John McCabe, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sadie Harrison,
Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Douglas Steele and Colin Hand amongst others.
Several of the carols have illustrious connections: "Child of the Manger" (2011) by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was composed for the choir of the
Chapel Royal and was dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal
Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. John McCabe's "Peace Carol" (2006) was
first sung by the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge under the
direction of Andrew Nethsingha in May 2014, a performance which was
among the last of any of his works at which he was present.
The
all-embracing message of Christmas is present in each and every carol,
but perhaps the lyrics of the "Peace Carol" are especially poignant when
we consider that this recording was made in Manchester, in May this
year, close to the time of the terror attack at Manchester arena."
1. Hodie Christus natus est - Paul Ayres
2. This time is borne a child - Cheryl Frances-Hoad
3. Of a rose synge we - Andrew Cusworth
4. Make we Joy now in this Fest - Huw Morgan
5. That Yonge Child - Peter Parshall
6. The Angel Gabriel - David Fawcett
7. Away in a Manger - John Turner
8.Unto Us a Son is Given - Frederick Frahm
9. Cantate Domino - Cheryl Camm
10. Susanni - Philip Cook
11. Child of the Manger - Peter Maxwell Davies
12. Peace Carol - John McCabe
13. Christmas Music - Andrew Mayes
14. Christmas Bells - Jenni Pinnock
15. Infant holy, Infant lowly - Simon Cummings
16. Two Carols - Douglas Steele
16. Come ye now at Christmas
17. The Child of God
18. He left he silver stars at play - Colin Hand
19. Balulalow - Matthew Coleridge
20. Brightest and Best - Sarah Rimkus
21. Alleluya for Christmas - Andrew Toovey
22. As-salamu alaykum Bethlehem - Sadie Harrison
23. Silent Nght - Mark Hewit
2017
"Hodie! Contemporary Christmas Carols brings together a compelling
selection of contemporary Christmas carols and arrangements, a snapshot
of a rich and exciting repertoire of Christmas music.
Four of these
pieces were commissioned in recent years for the annual Christmas Carol
Service at The Portsmouth Grammar School: Malcolm Archer's "Angels from
the Realms of Glory," Alexander LEstrange's "Hodie!," Richard
Rodney-Bennett's "Coventry Carol" and Tarik O'Regans "Ecce Puer."
1. Ding Dong Merrily on High - Arr. M. Wilberg
2. Away in a Manger - arr. D. Hill
3. Ecce Puer - Tarik O'Regan
4. Susex Carol - Arr. Phillp Ledger
5. Sing Lullaby! - Arr. D. Hill
6.Lus Arumque
7. No Small Wonder
8. O Little Town of Bethlehem
9. My Lord Has Come
10. IN the Bleak Midwinter
11. Coventry Carol
12. The Truth Sent from Above - Arr. R. Vaughn Williams)
13. Angels from the Realms of Glory
14. Silant Night, H. 145 - Arr. Bob Chilcott)
15. Wexford Carol - Arr. K. Berg
16. Hodie! - Arr. Alexander L'Estrange
2017
ADVENT CALENDAR, Ora Singers
"The
ORA Advent Calendar was broadcast in over 14 countries worldwide
through the month of December 2017. 24 contemporary choral works, one
for each day in the countdown to Christmas. Featuring new commissions by
John Rutter and Debbie Wiseman."
1. Suzi's Carol
2. Venite, Gaudte!
3. Gabriel's Message
4. In the Stillness
5. Adam lay y-bounden
6. Lullay, my Liking
7. Balulalow
8. Coventry Carol - Arr. Richard Allain
9. O Mannum mysterium
10. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
11. My Lord has Come
12 Quem pastores laudavere
13.Gaudete!
14. My Guardian Angel
15. Shepherds' Cradle Song
16. The Shepherd's Carol
17. The Oxen
19. Lux Aurumque
20. Bogoriodise Djevo
21. Les angels dans nos campagnes - Arr. Tobias Frank
22. In the Bleak Midwinter - Arr. Ola Gjeilo
23. Mary's Lullaby (Silent Night)
24. The Christmas Tree
2018
The full title of this recording is The Mystery of Christmas: English and 21 Century. The Ora Singers claim they commission more contemporary music than any other ensemble. They certainly have birthed a lot of new Christmas music.
Label Description:
The story of Christ’s birth has prompted generations of composers to
expressions of joy and mystical reflection. Our selection of carols for
this album unveils a whole treasure chest of offerings, some familiar,
some less so, all giving voice to various elements of the nativity
story. With the generous support of the Pureland Foundation we focus
both on the miraculous Incarnation and the central role of the Virgin
Mary.
Contents
WILLIAM BYRD [1543-1623]
· O magnum mysterium
ADRIAN PEACOCK [1962-]
· Venite, Gaudete!
RODERICK WILLIAMS [1965-]
· O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel
JUDITH WEIR
· Drop down, ye heavens, from above
THOMAS TALLIS [c.1505-1585]
· Videte miraculum
ANONYMOUS
· Coventry Carol (Medieval)
ALLAIN RICHARD
· Coventry Carol
ANONYMOUS
· Nova, nova
JAMES MACMILLAN [1959-]
· Nova! Nova! Ave fit ex Eva
JOHN RUTTER
· Suzi's Carol
JAMIE W. HALL [1983-]
· As I lay upon a night
ANONYMOUS
· There is no rose (Medieval)
BEN ROWARTH [1992-]
· There is no rose
THOMAS HYDE [1978-]
· Sweet was the song
ANONYMOUS
· Now may we singen
· Now may we singen (Medieval)
FREDRIK SIXTEN [1962-]
· Mary's Lullaby (Silent Night)
STEVEN SAMETZ [1954-]
· Gaudete
MORTEN LAURIDSEN
· O magnum mysterium (1994)
2019
Cantica Nova: New Canadian Carols, Choir of Christ Church Cathedral
Sadly, I cannot find a description of this album, but I've listed the tracks and composers below.
1. Plain Course of Grandiose - Composer: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral
2. O magnum mysterium - Composer: Paul Halley
3. A poor place - Composer: Herbert O'Dirscoll Composer: Patrick Wedd
4. Legend of the Bird - Composer: Stephanie Martin
5. I sing the birth - Ben Jonson Composer: Stephen Chatman
6. Rejoice ye Peoples of the Earth - Composer: Martin Luther Composer: Zachary Windus
7. Sailor's Carol - Composer: Charles Causley Composer: Matthew Larkin
8. There is no Rose - Composer: Rupert Lang
9. The time draws near - Alfred Lord Tennyson Composer: Christopher Goddard
10. Not very long ago - Composer: Bramwell Tovey
11. I Syng of a Mayden - Composer: Kathleen Allan
12. Touch of Grandshire Triples - Composer: The Christ Church Cathedral Guild of Bellringers
2019
Christmas Gift, Ora Singers
"In
2019, ORA Singers launched a call for scores from UK composers, to
select 12 composers to have their Christmas works professionally
recorded by ORA Singers. The project, called Christmas Gift, sought out
developing composers who would benefit from a professional recording to
help them take the next stage in their careers. From the many entries,
12 composers were selected, ranging from all over the UK and from ages
22-70; who were then invited to attend the rehearsals of their works
with ORA’s Artistic Director, Suzi Digby OBE, before the official
recording at All Hallow’s, Gospel Oak on the 12th of December 2019.
Each
composer then received a professional recording of their composition to
use for promotional purposes, performed by the world-class ORA Singers,
and available to listen to on our website, YouTube and SoundCloud
pages."
1. The bee Carol - Anthony Esland
2. Hush! My dear lie still and sleep - Rory Wainwright
3. O hasten, you Sehpherd - Grahme Barer
4. Sleep, Softly Now - Ian Assersohn
5. Christmas Eve - Anna Disley-Simpson
6. Bethlehem Ephrathaha - Althea Talbot Howa
7. A Winter Bluejay - Jack McCartney
8. I sing of a maiden - Dave Dexter
9. Rune of the Nativity - Jen Hartley
10. Still, still, still - Edmund Jollifffe
11. Gold and Spices - Alison Willis
Recording Link.
2021
"All the recordings here are of contemporary carols with premier recordings of Alender Camking's "Te bells of the city of God," Helen Paishg's "While Mary slept," Becky McGlade's "Infant holy," Russel Pascoe's "I sing of a maiden," Niel Cox's "I sing of a maiden," Richard Shephard's "All my heart this night rejoices," and Sasha Johnson Manning's "All my heart this night rejoices."
Regent Records
1
People, look east – Peter Tranchell arr Peter Marchbank b
3:302
Nowell sing we – Gabriel Jackson g
2:063
Once in royal David’s city – H J Gauntlett, arr Philip Stopford b
3:464
The bells of the city of God – Alexander Campkin*g
4:535
I sing of a maiden – Julian Philips b
3:386
While Mary slept – Helena Paish*g
4:147
Infant holy – Becky McGlade*b
3:248
Coventry Carol – Richard Allain g
4:049
The Magi’s Dream – James Whitbourn b
3:2010
In the bleak midwinter – Becky McGlade g
4:1111
There is no rose – Russell Pascoe*b
3:3112
I sing of a maiden – Neil Cox*g
3:2313
The dawn of redeeming grace – Judith Bingham Organ solo
5:2814
All my heart this night rejoices – Richard Shephard*b
3:0815
I sing of a maiden – Russell Pascoe*g (Piano: Christopher Gray)
2:5416
Away in a manger – William J Kirkpatrick, arr. Gary Cole b
2:5617
Illuminare, Jerusalem – Judith Weir
2:2718
All the world tonight rejoices – Sasha Johnson Manning *b
3:5019
Variations on ‘Greensleeves’ – David Briggs Organ solo
8:23
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