Composer: Leroy Anderson, Robert Chilcott, Taylor Scott Davis, Franz Xaver Gruber, George Frideric Handel, Thomas Hewitt Jones, William James Kirkpatrick, John Francis Wade
Orchestra: Voces8
Conductor: Barnaby Smith
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Decca
Catalogue: 5568937
Release: 2023
Size: 1.3 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Handel: Joy to the World
02. Kirkpatrick: Away in a Manger
03. Chilcott: The Sleeping Child
04. Wade: O come, all ye faithful
Davis: Magnificat
05. I. Magnificat anima mea
06. II. Shall I Rejoice
07. III. Et misericordia
08. IV. Deposuit
09. V. Gloria Patri
10. trad.: O come, o come, Emmanuel
11. Gruber: Silent Night
12. trad.: In Dulci Jubilo
13. trad.: Gabriel’s Message
14. Hewitt Jones: Christmas Cracker
15. Anderson: Sleigh Ride
Voces8, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble, is pleased to announce the release of their new album, ‘A Choral Christmas’ showcasing a joyful, cinematic soundscape-packed hamper of choral and orchestral treats. A Christmas musical extravaganza filled with sparkling, cinematic new arrangements of favourite carols from US composer Taylor Scott Davis. Featuring several world-premiere recordings of brand new works and arrangements, including the centrepiece of the album, a major new work for choir and orchestra, Taylor Scott Davis’s dazzling setting of the Magnificat, originally commissioned for Voces8’s LIVE from London festival. Also includes a serene and intimate new a cappella carol The Sleeping Child from British composer Bob Chilcott written especially for Voces8. The largest scale recording of Voces8 to date – featuring the Voces8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra for the first time, instrumental soloists and conducted by Voces8’s co-founder and countertenor Barnaby Smith.
Ahead of the holiday season, the a cappella ensemble Voces8 presents a Christmas album that is decidedly British. The 15 tracks attest to this, all drawn from the traditional religious Christmas music of England, from Handel to contemporary composer Bob Chilcott. For the occasion, Voces8 has come together with the Voces8 Foundation Orchestra, an instrumental ensemble born of their philanthropic efforts in musical education and democratization. American conductor and composer Barnaby Smith also pitches in: many of the arrangements of the works presented on the album owe themselves to him. The result is highly sophisticated, vivid, and cinematographic…perhaps too much so? Or rather, let’s say that the bold artistic team fearlessly dives headfirst into the spectacular, greatly supported by the brass and string sections. Fans of music that is, perhaps, more subtle, will undoubtedly be a bit taken aback, but it’s quite difficult to not be won over by the great sense of festive joy that emanates from this album.