At the beginning of what in some circles is called the Holy Nights, in others the Twelve Days of Christmas (ending on Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany, January 6), I couldn’t resist squeezing in a couple more favorite–and in my book essential–Christmas recordings, each with its own programmatic perspective. Each is still available in various formats, either streaming/download or CD or both.
First, a 2020 release from The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, titled Be All Merry (Signum Classics), is best described in the notes: “…a collection of traditional and contemporary choral music from Ireland and Scotland, including new arrangements and [original] compositions by some of Ireland’s most celebrated composers.” Even where a text and/or tune is familiar, the setting is not–all to a listener’s benefit. It’s an ingratiating program that will complement any of your well-loved, oft heard recordings of the indispensable carol canon. You will be delighted to hear John Høybye’s fresh, clever, snappy arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, or director Desmond Earley’s jazzy version of Carol of the Bells. And did I mention that the singing–and orchestral playing–is excellent?
Finally comes what might be called the “bible” of traditional-carols-by-a-choir recordings. This is the two-CD collection from The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, directed by Richard Marlow, aptly titled “Carols from Trinity”, which combines in one place two separate recordings from 1988 and 1992. The set is beyond generous: 56 tracks totaling two and a half hours of music. It contains what have become the “standard” arrangements of just about all of the best-known traditional carols along with favorite original pieces by composers such as Cornelius, Walton, Berlioz, Britten, Howells, Darke, Vaughan Williams, Leighton, etc. There also are several organ pieces dispersed throughout. And of course, the choir is unsurpassed in its command of this music–to me Trinity is the best of the Cambridge college choirs, so you can’t go wrong here. You can still find this set available here (and there you’ll also find my review from a “few” years ago).
