The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge has perhaps the sweetest, most mellifluous boy treble sound of all the British cathedral choirs (rivaled only by that of Edward Higginbottom’s Choir of New College, Oxford). And this new Christmas program, recorded in January 2011, is wholly satisfying not only in that regard, but also for its well-chosen repertoire–a perfect mix of old and new, established favorites and several that surely will be added to the list. Beginning with–surprise!–John Rutter’s classic What sweeter music (not Once in royal David’s city, or a fanfare, or tower bells) was an inspired choice; after years of overexposure, then near-retirement from recordings, it’s refreshing to hear this piece–as perfect a marriage of text and music, and as inspired a musical evocation of Christmas as has ever been created–once more, so beautifully sung.
From there we’re treated to gems such as Darke’s In the bleak mid-winter, Poston’s Jesus Christ the apple tree, Joubert’s There is no rose, Willcocks’ inimitable arrangement of Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, O little town of Bethlehem (to the superior Forest Green tune arranged by Vaughan Williams), and Leighton’s masterful setting of the Coventry Carol, interspersed with lesser known contemporary works like James Burton’s Balulalow, Matthew Martin’s Adam lay ybounden, and Michael Finnissy’s Telling–24 works in all. This is 74 minutes of heavenly Christmas music, performed and recorded in the pretty respectable earthly domain of St. John’s College Chapel, expertly led by Andrew Nethsingha and accompanied by the frightfully young and formidably talented organist John Challenger.
