In A Winter Breviary, St. Martin's Voices gives premiere recordings of big-name contemporary composers

 

In A Winter Breviary, St. Martin's Voices gives premiere recordings of big-name contemporary composers

A Winter Breviary, St. Martins's Voices, Andrew Earis

In this, their debut recording with Resonus Classics, St Martin's Voices presents a selection of contemporary choral works for the Christmas season. With settings of poetry from the fifteenth century to the present day, these new carols explore themes of winter snowscapes, the anticipation and contemplation of Advent, the Christmas story as seen by the women at its heart, and the joy of coming in from the cold to celebrate together.

In a programme made entirely of premiere recordings, this album features works by Cecilia McDowall, Roderick Williams and Lucy Walker, among others. The album also boasts a major new carol suite by Bob Chilcott, with libretto by Georgia Way entitled Mary, Mother, which was premiered by the ensemble in 2022.

Olivia Sparkhall (b.1976)
1. All and some

Cecilia McDowall (b.1951)
2. There is no rose

Reena Esmail (b.1983)
A Winter Breviary
3. We Look For You
(Evensong – Raag Hamsadhwani)
4. The Year’s Midnight
(Matins – Raag Malkauns)
5. The Unexpected Early Hour
(Lauds – Raag Ahir Bhairav)

Sarah MacDonald (b.1968)
The Manger is Empty
6. Like the snow in winter
7. As among broken glass
8. The manger is empty

Nils Greenhow (b.1989)
9. Advent Calendar

Thomas Hewitt Jones (b.1984)
10. Love is the Answer

Lucy Walker (b.1998)
The Christmas Life
11. The Christmas Life
12. We shall walk
13. The Angels’ Song

Yshani Perinpanayagam (b.1983)
14. When God made Eve

Roderick Williams (b.1965)
15. Queen Elizabeth’s Winchester
Carol (The Royal Carol)

Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
Mary, Mother
16. A child in Galilee
17. Carpentry Carol
18. After the angel
19. Walking Carol
20. Dear heart
21. Hymn

https://www.resonusclassics.com/products/a-winter-breviary-music-for-christmas

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