Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
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Composer: Benjamin Britten
Conductor: David Willcocks
Conductor: Philip Ledger
Performer: Choir of King's College Cambridge
Performer: James Bowman
Performer: Osian Ellis
Performer: Ian Hare
Performer: James Lancelot
Performer: David Corkhill
Performer: Richard Morton
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued
CD Release Date: 2004-03-23
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
  1. I: In A Garden Shady This Holy Lady - Sir David Willcocks
  2. II: I Cannot Grow - Sir David Willcocks
  3. III: O Ear Whose Creatures Cannot Wish To Fail - Sir David Willcocks
  4. I: Procession - Sir David Willcocks
  5. II: Wolcum Yole! - Sir David Willcocks
  6. III: There Is No Rose - Sir David Willcocks
  7. IV: (a) That Yonge Child - Sir David Willcocks
  8. (b) Balulalow - Sir David Willcocks
  9. V: As Dew In Aprille - Sir David Willcocks
  10. VI: This Little Babe - Sir David Willcocks
  11. VII: Interlude (Andante Pastorale) - Sir David Willcocks
  12. VIII: In Freezing Winter Night - Sir David Willcocks
  13. IX: Spring Carol - Sir David Willcocks
  14. X: Deo Gracias! - Sir David Willcocks
  15. XI: Recession - Sir David Willcocks
  16. I: Kyrie - Sir David Willcocks
  17. II: Gloria - Sir David Willcocks
  18. III: Sanctus - Sir David Willcocks
  19. IV: Benedictus - Sir David Willcocks
  20. V: Agnus Dei - Sir David Willcocks
  21. Festival Te Deum Op.32 - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  22. Rejoice In God, O Ye Tongues - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  23. For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffrey - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  24. For The Mouse Is A Creature Of Great Personal Valour - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  25. For The Flowers Are Great Blessings - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  26. For I Am Under The Same Accusation With My Saviour - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  27. For H Is A Spirit And Therefore He Is God - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  28. Hallelujah From The Heart Of God - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  29. Te Deum In C - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  30. Jubilate Deo - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge

Music reviews of Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Music Review: a voice teacher and early music fan
Rating: 5 Stars

TWO KING'S COLLEGE CONDUCTORS PERFORM BRITTEN: Willcocks 1972 & Ledger 1974.

"A Ceremony of Carols" for treble voices and harp consists of nine carols of medieval origin preceded by a Processional ending with a Recessional. The performance of this work by Willcocks is totally excellent; the diction is clear and precise while the quality of the boy sopranos is crystalline. Unlike the later 1990 Cleobury recording in which the vocal quality was not 'up to par' and the diction somewhat 'muddy'. In addition, Cleobury's soprano soloist was ill-chosen for his tone was breathy to the point of annoyance.

"Hymn to St. Cecilia" very well might have been composed by Britten because he was born on St. Cecilia's day, so he wanted to write something for himself. Written in 1942, it is a setting of a W.H. Auden poem, the music reflecting the restrained intensity of the words. Quite an interesting work and well produced by Willcocks.

"Rejoice in the Lamb"(Festival Cantata) sets excerpts from an extended poem by the 18th century poet, Christopher Smart. Britten sets ten short sections, all dedicated to the glory of God. The cantata is scored for four soloists, four-part chorus, organ and (in this version) percussion. Here again Ledger's choir far surpasses Cleobury's 1990 disc.

"Te Deum & Jubilate Deo in C". The 'Te Deum' dates from 1935 and is written for treble solo, four-part choir and organ. the 'Jubilate', although composed much later, in 1961, is also in C, and forms a convenient comparison work. In these two compositions Britten eschews any banal display of contrapuntal writing so characteristic a trademark of countless shorter settings. Ledger's choir performed these wonderfully well, and I loved both of them!

"Missa Brevis in D" for boys'voices and organ is a direct descendent of "A Ceremony....", in that the composer was moved to write it after he heard a performance in 1958 in Westminster Cathedral. Here again the voices are scored in three parts, but with organ rather than harp. It was well performed by Willcocks, but I didn't like it; maybe you will.

I was most happy to see this reissue of this particular King's College performance.
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