2016: Working List of New Classical and Choral Christmas Recordings
Updated: Dec. 30, 2025
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.
1. Sans Day Carol English Traditional arr. John Rutter
2. Mary Had a Baby American Spiritual, arr. Malcolm Sargent
3. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston
4. Once in Royal David’s City Henry John Gauntlett, arr. Arthur Henry Mann & David Willcocks
5. Sussex Carol English Traditional, arr. David Willcocks
6. The Lamb John Tavener
7. A Maiden Most Gentle French Melody, arr. Andrew Carter
8. Hosanna to the Son of David Thomas Weelkes
9. The Three Kings Jonathan Dove, arr. Ivor Atkins
10. A Spanish Carol Spanish Traditional, arr. Andrew Carter
11. Suo G?n – Welsh Traditional arr. George Guest
12. There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob Felix Mendelssohn
13. O Little Town of Bethlehem English Traditional, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
14. I Saw Three Ships English Traditional, arr. David Willcocks
15. The Little Road to Bethlehem Michael Head
16. Ding Dong! Merrily on High French Traditional, arr. Charles Wood
17. A New Year Carol Benjamin Britten
18. Blessed Jesu! Here We Stand Richard Popplewell
19. Ave Maria Igor Stravisnky
20. Adeste Fideles John Francis Wade
21. Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar Peter Cornelius
22. De Virgin Mary American Spiritual, arr. Malcolm Sargent
23. The Holly and the Ivy John Gardner
24. A Spotless Rose Herbert Howells
25. Hark the Herald Angels Sing! Felix Mendelssohn, arr. David Willcocks
26. We Wish You a Merry Christmas English Traditional, arr. Andrew Gant
For many, Christmas time and music are inseparable. There have been countless songs, carols and musical compositions written on the theme of Christmas. Whether sacred or secular, music is an integral part of this festive holiday. When choosing which pieces to include on this Christmas album, we wanted to create one large opus that would serenade not only horn aficionados, but listeners all over the world, bringing them into the Christmas season. Following a previous successful collaboration on a large horn ensemble project, it was clear that the American Horn Quartet and horns of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra were destined to combine forces once more.
In its 30th and final season, the American Horn Quartet is unique in the field of brass chamber music. The AHQ’s exuberant performances have brought audiences all over the world to their feet. In 1982, four American horn players who were working and residing in Europe met for the first time to explore the potential of the horn quartet, a chamber music formation with a much longer tradition than most people realize.
Christ Church Manchester
| 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
A Christmas Garland (2016) performed by Carol Mastrodomenico (soprano), David Bott (soprano), David Chalmers (organ), Gabriel V Brass Ensemble (brass ensemble)- composed by Adolphe Adam, Alfred S. Burt, Anthony Dilorenzo, Arthur Warrell, Bill Berry, Bruce Stuart Saylor, Christmas Traditional - With A Christmas Garland, you are set for your Holiday Christmas music with beloved Christmas carols and beautifully arranged brass selections for the Holidays.
Sing Noel with Gloriae Dei Cantores is a Christmas treat from beginning to end. The recording opens with Sing Noel - a colorful set of carols moving seamlessly from one to another. From Caroling, Caroling to My Dancing Day and The Holly and the Ivy - this recording brings you a traditional Christmas experience that will brighten your Christmas cheer and warm your heart. "I adore well-executed choral music for the holidays, and Gloriae Dei Cantores certainly fills the bill. Sing Noel is an outstanding... moving release ofintensely lovely seasonal music. "-Christmasreviews. Com Gloriae Dei
Cantores collaborated with The Boston Pops Orchestra on 10 Holiday Tours. "One of the finest crafted, best blended, and innately musical ensembles with which I have had the pleasure to work. " Keith Lockhart, Conductor, Boston Pops Nothing heralds the majesty of Christmastime like the brilliance and beauty of brass! Gabriel V Brass Ensemble presents a collection of music for Christmas by masters of brass.
From the overflow of joy in J. S. Bach's Wie will ich mich freuen, to the cinematic soundscape of DiLorenzo's Baltazar (A King's Journey), to the rosy-cheeked romp of Leroy Andersen's Sleigh Ride, each piece adds new luster to your celebration of this glorious season.
1 Sing Noel
2 My Dancing Day
3 A Flight of Angels, for Handbell Choir
4 Shepherd's Carol
5 The Star Carol, Carol for Voice & Piano
6 Carol of the Friendly Beasts, for Chorus
7 Away in a Manger (Tune: Cradle Song) (New English Hymnal 22)
8 In the Bleak Midwinter
9 Cantique de Noël, for Voice & Orchestra ("Minuit, Chrétiens," "O Holy Night")
10 Sussex Carol ("On Christmas Night")
11 O Little Town of Bethlehem
12 Caroling, Caroling (Christmas Bells Are Ringing), Carol for Voice & Piano
13 The Holly and the Ivy (English)
14 Ding Dong! Merrily on High (French)
15 Masters in This Hall
16 A Merry Christmas, Carol Setting for Chorus
17 A Christmas Garland
18 Cantata No. 146, "Wir Müssen Durch Viel Trübsal," BWV 146 (BC A70): Wie Will Ich Mich Freuen
19 Joy to the World (Theme By Handel)
20 Salvation Is Created (Spaséñiye Sodélal), for Choir, Op. 25/5
21 Pat-A-Pan (Burgundian)
22 Baltazar (A King's Journey), for Brass Ensemble
23 O Magnum Mysterium, for Chorus
24 Caroling, Caroling (Christmas Bells Are Ringing), Carol for Voice & Piano
25 Sleigh Ride, for Orchestra (Or String Orchestra)
26 Gloria, for Two Trumpets, Horn, Trombone & Organ
27 What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
28 Ding Dong! Merrily on High (French)
29 Corde Natus Ex Parentis, for Brass Ensemble
30 Angels We Have Heard on High
31 Veni, for Brass Quintet & Handbell Choir
32 Christmas in Brass, for Brass Ensemble
Simon Hewitt Jones violin
Gavin Sutherland conductor
1. Christmas Party
2. Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth
3. Cameron’s Lament – Christmas Version
https://signumrecords.com/product/christmas-party/SIGCD821/
Siglo de Oro’s first commercial recording sees the choir and its director Patrick Allies in collaboration with saxophonist Sam Corkin. Their intriguing programme highlights the saxophone’s natural kinship with the human voice, as well as the endless expressive possibilities which this versatile instrument stimulates in the imaginations of modern composers.
https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/dcd34184?_pos=13&_sid=132e7e903&_ss=r
1 Sussex Carol
2 Adam Lay Ybounden
3 Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152: II. Quem Vidistis Pastores Dicite
4 Long, Long Ago
5 Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152: III. Videntes Stellam
6 Noël Suisse Timothy Ravalde
8 Magi Veniunt Ab Oriente
9 Today the Virgin Comes to the Cave
10 Omnes de Saba
11 What Sweeter Music
13 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
16 In Dulci Jubilo, BWV 608
Timothy Ravalde
17 Two Anthems, Op. 43: II. Look Up, Sweet Babe
19 Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152: IV. Hodie Christus Natus Est
20 Te Deum and Benedictus, Op 34: Benedictus
This album is a reissue of Simphonies des noëls, the first recording with Les Violons du Roy on the ATMA Classique label.
Nowell, sing we! Is the second recording from Robert Quinney as director of New College Oxford Choir. This recording follows the trajectory of the last weeks of Michaelmas term at New College. The open format of a carol service allows for a wide variety in the choice of music, so long as none of the pieces is longer than a few minutes. The collection Nowell, sing we! Encompasses traditional carols and Counter Reformation composers through the twentieth century. New College Oxford Choirs previous release Symphony Anthems- John Blow under the directorship of Robert Quinney has been awarded Editors Choice in Gramophone and the release has enjoyed several weeks in the Specialist classical chart in the UK
Novum
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.
“Few ‘standard carols’ but a disc to widen your choice of beautiful Christmas music including the magical ‘Christmas Sequence’, ‘Fantasy on Carols’ ‘Sussex Mummers’ Carol’, ‘Sleepers Awake’ ‘Sleighride’ ‘A Maid peerless’ ‘New Year Carol’ ‘Bethlehem Down’ ‘Christmas Day’ etc (18 tracks)
[1] Fantasy on Christmas Carols (The Holly and Ivy) 9:14
(Arnold arr. Christopher Palmer)
[2] Sleepers, Wake (‘Zion Hears the Watchmens’ Voices’) (J.S.Bach) 4:30
[3] The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol 2:25
(Trad arr. Percy Grainger / Dana Pema)
[4] A Legend (from 16 Songs for Children, Op.54, No.5) 3:01
(Tchaikovsky) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble
[5] A Spotless Rose (Howells) Solo: Martin Oxenham, baritone 3:40
[6] Sleighride (Delius ed. Beecham) 5:44
[7] The Noble Stem of Jesse (Praetorius) 1:56
[8] Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen 2:42
(A Beauteous Rose hath Blossomed) (Brahms arr. Palmer)
[9] A Christmas Sequence (M. Rosza arr. Christopher Palmer) 9:37
-Mary and Joseph (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Star of Bethlehem
-Adoration of the Magi (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
-Nativity (Words: Harry Robert Wilson)
[10] Bethlehem Down (Warlock) 5:06
[11] A Maid Peerless (Howells) Solo: Thomas Colwell, treble 5:31
[12] A New Year Carol (‘Friday Afternoons’) (Britten) 2:23
Trebles: David Nickless, Jonathan Seyghal, Connor Burrowes
[13] In Bethlehem City (Vaughan Williams) 2:17
[14] I Sing of a Maiden (Read arr. Hadley/Christopher Palmer) 3:06
[15] Christmas Day (Holst) 6:59
https://altocd.com/product/our-christmas-sequence/
John Bucchino (b. 1952) conjures up the love and gratitude that we feel at Thanksgiving in his song “Grateful.” Originally written in 1995, for solo voice with piano, here for this recording it receives a new treatment for mixed voices and piano from Ryan Nowlin (b. 1978).
First, EVUSA sings the familiar and uplifting “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) in the a cappella arrangement and English translation by Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978).
David Chase’s (b. 1964) arrangement of the English carol, “God Rest Ye,” (aka “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen”), commissioned by EVUSA for this recording and scored for mixed chorus and piano, has a recurring rhythmic figure in the accompaniment that infects us with the joy of the season. We continue on to remember the true sense of the season’s holiness as we present a serene polyphonic setting of Jean Mouton’s (1459-1522) “Ave Maria,” from the French Renaissance.
Another invocation of light occurs as the Jewish community kindles candles to celebrate the Festival of Chanukah. This holiday commemorates the ancient victory over an enemy that tried to deprive Jews of religious freedom. Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) and lyricist Steven Young (b. 1965) transport us into another world in their uplifting piece, “The Chanukah Song” (“We Are Lights”).
English composer Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) expresses a serene hope in his piece “A New Year Carol,” scored for unison chorus and piano. The piece, originally written for children, is from Friday Afternoons, a collection of twelve songs by Britten, composed from 1933–35. He wrote it for the pupils of Clive House School, Prestatyn (Wales), where Britten’s brother, Robert, was headmaster. The text is anonymous.
We end with Tedd Firth’s (b. 1976) new year “carol” in a new jazz arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne.” The song, with text by Robert Burns, is traditionally used to bid farewell to the old year and sung at the stroke of midnight.
Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) is one of New York’s preeminent choral ensembles; it performs in many of the city’s iconic venues and events and records and premieres works by America’s finest composers and lyricists. Regularly on stage with the New York Pops in its Carnegie Hall subscription series, televised on NBC’s July 4th Macy’s 2014 Spectacular Fireworks and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting in 2011 and 2012, the ensemble comprises a talented roster of seasoned professionals and auditioned volunteers, dynamically fitted to the unique needs of each project. Among other national highlights, EVUSA participated in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural activities and held a month-long residency at National Public Radio.
https://www.sonoluminus.com/store/season-of-light
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.
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 |
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.
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