ORIGINAL CAROLS

1 Hodie Christus natus est (2024)

This carol uses text taken from the liturgy of the Vespers service for Christmas Day. It is a paraphrase of Luke chapter 2 verses 11-14, announcing that ‘Today, Christ is born’. It is written for eight-part choir and follows a ternary structure, with the opening music returning at the end. The music attempts to convey the excitement of the birth of Jesus using music in dance-like seven time. The quieter central section contrasts the lower voices singing ‘Hodie in terra’ (today on earth) with the sopranos and altos singing ‘canunt Angeli’ in imitation (the Angels sing). The music then builds from the lower voices before a return to the opening gesture and a section of reiterated alleluias. The carol was awarded joint first prize by the Bach Choir in its 2024 ‘Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition’.

2 Coventry Carol (2019)

The Coventry Carol is a haunting 16th century carol taken from a medieval nativity drama, or ‘mystery play, called the Shearmen and Tailors’ pageant. It reflects upon the Massacre of the Innocents, where King Herod orders the killing of male infants to eliminate the baby Jesus. The lullaby is sung by the mothers mourning their lost children. This setting uses a gently lilting idea in the minor key with a chromatically descending bass line. A contrasting central section depicts the raging king while the last chorus adds a soprano descant.

3 Adam lay ybounden (2021)

Adam lay ybounden is a 15th century English text of unknown authorship recounting the Fall of Man from the third chapter of Genesis. Initially written as a song, no surviving musical settings from the time exist. This setting is in fast triple time with the inner parts providing frequent syncopations. The music builds to an eventual climax and a final resolution to a major chord.

4 Sir Christëmas (2017)

Sir Christëmas is a lively, late 15th century carol suggesting a ceremony that welcomes a personified ‘Sir Christëmas’ into the company. It is the first mention of a metaphorical character involved with the festivities, a potential forerunner of Father Christmas. This setting begins with the cry of Christmas joy, sung imitatively in all the parts then alternating with homophonic passages. The carol builds to a final climax ‘And sing with us now joyfully’ and emphatic declamations of ‘Nowell’.

5 In excelsis gloria (2014)

This mid-15th century carol takes its title from the refrain (‘Glory in the highest’), sung at the end of each section. This refrain begins with a sense of excitement, to the words ‘Christo Paremus Cantica’ (‘Let us raise unto Christ’), and is followed be a contrasting lyrical verse, sung in English first by the soprano and then the tenor soloists. A variety of choral textures are explored throughout the carol, with the two soloists set against the rest of the choral. The carol ends with repeated proclamation ‘In excelsis gloria’.

PIAE CANTIONES SETTINGS

6 Omnis mundus

7 Resonet in laudibus

These short settings are arrangements of carols from the collection of late Medieval Latin songs called Piae Cantiones. Published in 1582, this collection of sacred and secular songs contains several well-known carol melodies, later set to English words including ‘Good King Wenceslas’, and ‘Of the father’s love begotten.

The first setting here, Omnis mundus (‘All the world rejoices at the birth of the saviour’) presents the original melody first in the soprano and then the tenor sections with subtle chromatic harmony and occasional countermelody.

In Resonet in laudibus (‘Let it resound in praise with joyful applause’), the melody is given to the sopranos throughout with the lower parts accompanying.

SINFONIA CANTIONES

8 Puer nobis nascitur

9 Personent hodie

10 Up! Christen folk

Sinfonia Cantiones takes three carols from Piae Cantiones, arranged for choir and orchestra in the manner of a classical symphony, with three movements fast-slow-fast.

The work opens grandly with Puer nobis nascitur (Unto us is born a son), presented, like the middle movement, in its original Latin setting. This following movement, Personent hodie makes particular use of the lyricism of the cor anglais and the rest of the woodwind section with pizzicato strings.

The work then ends with a short and lively arrangement of ‘O quam mundum’ (Oh how beautiful) in its standard English translation Up! Good Christen folk.

This album is due for release in September 2025, when it will be available from the online store at Convivium Records.