2016 New Classical Christmas Recordings

 

New Classical Christmas Recording 2016

Updated: Nov. 27, 2023

Adeste Fideles: Christmas Carols from Her Majesty's Chapel Royal

Adeste Fideles: Christmas Carols from her Majesty's Chapel Royal by Various artists - The English choral Christmas album has tended toward innovation, and it's good to hear that there's still a place for the traditional kind, with lightly embroidered traditional hymns, just ever so slightly wobbly, but utterly endearing, boy sopranos, and strongly diatonic Christmas compositions that are consistently and simply rapt in mood.

Signum Classics

Christmas Carols Old And New For String Quartet

1. Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
2. What Sweeter Music Can We Bring
3. The Friendly Beasts
4. Shepherds
5. The Angel Gabriel
6. King Wenceslas' Feast
7. Christmas Lullaby
8. The Huron Carol
9. The Star
10. The Journey of the Magi
11. What Child Is This (Greensleeves)

 

Sir David Valentine Willcocks CBE MC (30 December 1919–17 September 2015) was one of the most influential choirmasters of his age, working with singers of all ages, moulding voices and raising standards in all his work.

This recording features twenty-three of his best-known arrangements, ranging from exquisite gems of quiet stillness to rousing shouts of majestic praise, sung by the Choir of Worcester Cathedral. The Cathedral Choir is joined by the Worcester Festival Choral Society and Sennet Brass for the magnificent large-scale favourites, including O come, all ye faithful and Hark! the herald-angels sing.

Christopher Allsop organ, Peter Nardone director
1. O come, all ye faithful * 7:30
2. Sussex Carol 2:12
3. God rest you merry, gentlemen 3:38
4. Ding, dong! merrily on high * 2:34
5. Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing? 4:35
6. Angelus ad virginem 2:50
7. Once in royal David’s city * 4:38
8. The infant King 3:59
9. Gabriel’s message 3:06
10. Unto us is born a son * 2:35
11. Cherry tree carol 2:07
12. Rocking 2:17
13. While shepherds watched * 2:40
14. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day 2:17
15. Infant holy, infant lowly 2:09
16. It came upon the midnight clear * 3:45
17. Away in a manger 2:56
18. I saw three ships 2:12
19. The first nowell * 5:51
20. Resonemus laudibus 2:01
21. O come, O come, Emmanuel 4:09
22. Deck the hall 1:30
23. Hark, the herald-angels sing * 4:04

On Christmas Night (Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford)

Roderick Williams (Barritone); Daniel Hyde (Director);

The much lauded Magdalen College Choir present a glorious programme celebrating the remarkable variety of the twentieth-century English carol. Combining well-loved standards and innovative choir favourites, the breadth of musical expression runs a range of emotions from quiet contemplation to joyous revelling at the wondrous miracle of Christmas. Acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams soars in Williams’ celebrated Fantasia, crowning the selection of carols and organ solos led by renowned director and organist Daniel Hyde.

https://www.opusarte.com/details/OACD9022D

O NATA LUX, Vocal Ensemble Gentleman Singers.

This album features music primarily related to the seasons of Advent and Christmas. It includes a number of recent commissions for the male vocal ensemble, Gentlemen Singers, and was recorded in their hometown (Hradec Králové) in the Czech Republic. The programme also includes fresh arrangements produced for the recording. The carols are performed their original languages. Label: Convivium.

https://conviviumrecords.co.uk/product/o-nata-lux-contemplative-christmas-classics/#

Songs of the Nativity, The Sixteen

On this release, The Sixteen contrasts the dramatic intensity of music by some of today's most admired composers with such traditional and modern carols as Boris Ord's Adam Lay Ybounden and Henry Walford Davis' version of O Little Town of Bethlehem. Much-loved classics appear on this album along with many others that, with time, will become classics. 

Every work on this album captures the joy and sincerity of the most wonderful of seasons. The album provides a perfect peaceful and uplifting antidote to the hectic pre-Christmas rush.

1 O Magnum Mysterium 2 Adam Lay Ybounden 3 The Saviour's Work 4 The Christ-Child 5 Bethlehem Down 6 A Gallery Carol 7 My Lord Has Come 8 The Holy Boy 9 O Little Town of Bethlehem 10 When Christ Was Born of Mary Free 11 Now May We Singen 12 Children's Song of the Nativity 13 Adam Lay Ybounden 14 Song of the Shepherds 15 Somerset Carol 16 The Shepherd's Carol 17 This Endris Night 18 There Is a Flower 19 Christmas Eve 20 And All the Stars Looked Down 21 Dutch Carol 22 O Radiant Dawn

Label: Coro

 

Surrounded by Angels: A Christmas Celebration with Ensemble Galilei

Ensemble Galilei showcases their astounding playing as well as arranging talents on this release, Surrounded by Angels. Each member of Ensemble Galilei is renowned in thier own field - two winners of the All-Ireland Senior Championship, two winners of teh U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship, a four-time winner of the U.S. National Scottish Harp Championship, a Fulbright Scholar - they bring uncontested talents to this release. This release is so rich, soulful and deep that it transcends the genres of Irish or Scottish or Early Music.

1 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Konvulsionslåten - the Celt
2 Divinum Mysterium - Tàladh Ar Slànaigheir
3 Away in the Manger (Flow Gently, Sweet Afton) - Polonessa Spoof
4 Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
5 I Wonder As I Wander
6 Greensleeves
7 Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable - Jesu Kreuz, Leiden Und Pein
8 The Surround - Snowy Path - Half C
9 Une Vierge Pucelle - Joseph Est Bien Marié
10 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Good King Wenceslas
11 At Midnight Hour - Joy Be with You
12 Carol of the Birds
13 Winter's Falling Light
14 The Wexford Carol - Shetland Reel
15 Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning - Farewell to Goirtin
16 Silent Night

Label: Sono Luminus         

There is No Rose, Vocal Groups Concert Clemens


This new release of Christmas tunes comes from the Danish choir vocal group Concert Clemens. Featuring a selection of festive favorites and lesser-known works, many of which have been newly arranged and recorded for the first time, this release will put you in the Holiday spirit. Entitled There is no Rose, the recording follows the theme of the rose as a symbol of love. Concert Clemens is an ambitious classical vocal group resident in Aarhus, Denmark. Formed in 1997 by conductor Carsten Seyer-Hansen, the ensemble aims to present classical vocal music with precision and warmth, and performs at music festivals, competitions and in concerts around the world.

Upon a Winter's Night, Cara Dillon

Multi award winning and internationally acclaimed Irish folk singer Cara Dillon, captures the mystery of Christmas with a collection of songs ancient and modern providing a welcome antidote to 21st century Yuletide excess. Here, the story of Christmas is retold and explored through an array of musical guises brimming with gravitas, reverence, mythology and atmosphere. Along the way the mood shifts from joyous wonder to reflection, faith and celebration. Traditional favourites "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "O Holy Night" are as stunning as anything in Cara's back catalogue, the latter being an arresting a-cappella version sung with her sister Mary Dillon. Other highlights include the atmospheric "Wexford Carol" with newly added cinematic instrumental sections. Sitting perfectly alongside these classics are three originals written by Cara and long time musical partner, Sam Lakeman, including the dynamic title track "Upon A Winter's Night". "Standing By My Christmas Tree", a secular reflection touching on the loneliness and nostalgia felt at Christmas. The final original, "Mother Mary", envisages the Virgin Mary soothing her newborn in a delicate and pensive lullaby "Go to sleep my darling child, for at your feet will fall, the hopes and prayers of all... I am your Mother Mary".
Charcoal Records