It has seemed a little strange to be listening to these discs
outside the Christmas season, although I suppose that it is
no stranger than it must have been to be recording them in April
or July. It does however emphasize that what we have here is
not merely a collection of music suitable for Christmas (or,
in one case, for Easter) but a wonderful overview of British
composers active in the 1960s, many represented by several contrasting
pieces. Whilst obviously not every composer active at the time
is there, it must be said that to have nearly fifty items from
that period is exciting both in prospect and in reality. I have
reorganized the contents list in the heading to this review
so that the composers are shown in alphabetical order rather
than the more random but well contrasted order in which they
appear on the discs. I hope that this gives a clearer idea of
the extent to which particular composers are represented, and
to which these discs fill gaps in the catalogue.
Eloquence are usually among the better reissue companies when
it comes to the quality of their booklets. Often excellent essays
about the performers and music are included. In this case they
had a problem in that, as with all vocal music, the listener
needs to be able to follow the words being sung. Accordingly
no less than 17 pages of the booklet are devoted to the texts
of all of the items on the discs, together with the names of
their authors and composers. The track listing in the booklet
gives merely the title and duration of each piece and there
are no background notes.
Novello published a book of fifty-one carols, some new and some
arrangements, in 1963. Just over half of the items on these
discs were included in that volume and I believe that the rest
followed in subsequent publications by Novello although I do
not have them to hand. I do not know what Novello had hoped
for, but in practice the first volume of Oxford’s “Carols for
Choirs” which had been published a couple of years earlier has
come to be regarded, together with its various successors, as
the standard Christmas collection for many choirs. I hope that
these discs will encourage such choirs to cast their nets wider.
The variety of music here is considerable. There are many arrangement
of well known carols, the most entertaining and imaginative
of which are probably those by Malcolm Williamson, but there
are also many original works. These are mainly settings of earlier
words, including John Gardner’s brief but memorable two-part
setting of “When Christ was born of Mary free”, but others,
including Bernard Naylor’s “Ecce puer” to words by James Joyce,
make use of more modern poems. Perhaps it would be true to say
that many composers have modified, but not dumbed down, their
usual style at that time for the specific needs of choirs at
Christmas but the musical quality and variety remains high.
Standards of performance are also very high. The Elizabethan
Singers were one of the finest professional choirs in England
at that time, singing with energy, accuracy and considerable
beauty of tone, although occasionally more vibrato than
might be expected from a comparable choir today. I sat entranced
through the length of both discs. My only regret is the lack
of some of the more interesting items from “Sing Nowell”, including
Elizabeth Lutyens’ “Nativity” and Adrian Cruft’s “The Star-Song”,
but unfortunately they were not selected for recording at the
time. A clear opportunity for choirs wanting to explore unusual
material.
You may think that you do not want discs of carols at this time
of year, but think again. This is music that is enjoyable at
any time, and by next Christmas you may have forgotten about
this set. To do that would be a real loss of potential musical
pleasure.
John Sheppard
Full track listing:
Richard Rodney BENNETT (b.1936)
Dormi Jesu [1:57]; Salutation Carol [5:38]; The sorrows
of Mary [5:52]
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
The holly and the ivy [4:46]; Jesu, Thou art our Saviour
[2:50]
Hugo COLE (1917-1995) Deck
the halls with boughs of holly [1:21]; Away in a manger [3:01]
Gordon CROSSE (b.1937) Laetabundus
[3:02]
Peter Maxwell DAVIES (b.1934)
Ave Maria [2:18]; Ave Plena Gratia [4:51]
Thomas EASTWOOD (1922-1999)
Unto us is born a son [2:43]
Peter Racine FRICKER (1920-1990)
The First Christmas [1:23]; A babe is born [2:06]; In excelsis
Gloria [1:42]
John GARDNER (b.1917) We
wish you a merry Christmas [1:49]; The First Noel [4:07]; When
Christ was born of Mary free [1:32]; The Shout – an Easter Carol
[2:04]
Louis HALSEY (b.1929) Balulalow
[1:26]
Alan HODDINOTT (1929-2008)
What tidings? [3:18]
John JOUBERT (b.1927) Wassail
Song [3:02]; There is no rose [2:42]; Welcome Yule [1:57];
God rest ye merry, gentlemen [4:37]; A little child there is
y-born Op 48 [2:05]
Kenneth LEIGHTON (1929-1988)
O leave your sheep [4:33]
William MATHIAS (1934-1992)
Wassail Carol [1:49]
Nicolas MAW (1935-2009)
Our Lady’s Song [2:53]; Balulalow [3:18]
John McCABE (b.1939) Coventry
Carol [3:09]
Anthony MILNER (1925-2002)
Out of your sleep arise [2:18]
Bernard NAYLOR (1907-1986) Ecce
Puer [1:19]; Shepherds! Shake off your drowsy sleep [2:01]
Peter NAYLOR (b.1933) Eastern
monarchs [1:14]
Arthur OLDHAM (1926-2003) Remember
O thou man [4:14]
Simon PRESTON (b.1938) I
saw three ships [1:50]
Basil RAMSEY From heaven
winging [1:59]
Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971)
The Oxen [3:47]
Alan RIDOUT (1934-1996)
Silent night [3:04]; The old year now is fled [1:54]
Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986)
Infant holy [2:33]
Phyllis TATE (1911-1987) The
Virgin and Child [3:32]
William WALTON (1902-1983) What
cheer [1:15]
Peter WISHART (1921-1984)
Alleluya, a New Work is come on Hand [2:07]
Malcolm WILLIAMSON (1931-2003)
The Boar’s Carol [2:08]; Ding! Dong! Merrily on high [1:48];
Good King Wenceslas [2:54]
The Elizabethan Singers/Louis Halsey 
