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| | Britten - Christ's Nativity / Gritton, Wyn-Rogers, Holst Singer, Layton | | | Music Artist : | | Catherine Wyn-Rogers | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Hyperion UK | | Release Date : | | 1995-11-21 | | Store Price : | | $21.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $21.98 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Theme: A Boy was Born
2. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation I: Lullay, Jesu
3. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation II: Herod
4. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation III: Jesu, as Thou art our Saviour
5. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation IV: The Three Kings
6. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation V: In the bleak mid-winter
7. A Boy Was Born, choral variations for mixed voices, Op. 3: Variation VI (Finale): Noël!
8. A Hymn to the Virgin, for double chorus
9. Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus: Christ's Nativity
10. Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus: Sweet was the Song
11. Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus: Preparations
12. Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus: New Prince, New Pomp
13. Christ's Nativity, Christmas suite for chorus: Carol of King Cnut
14. A Shepherd's Carol, for chorus
15. Jubilate Deo, for chorus & organ in C major
16. Te Deum, for trumpet, chorus & organ in C major
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 a voice teacher and early music fan
Submitted on: 2006-11-27 |
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BRITTEN AND GRITTON WITH YOU I AM SMITTEN!!!!
This present disc brings together a selection of Britten's choral music for Christmastide, a season he much enjoyed, to the end of his life. The earliest is 'A Hymn to the Virgin' composed on July 9, 1930,and was first performed at St. John's Church on January 5, 1931, at which time his Mother sang the alto part in the solo quartet. The anonymous 14th century text in praise of the Virgin Mary is set for two contrasted groups of voices, one large, the other small.
'Christ's Nativity' is a fascinating choral work from Britten's student days, and is here receiving its first recording. There are 5 settings, all of which were written at different times starting with January, 1931. They are: 'Christ's Nativity'-'Sweet was the Song'-'Preparations'-New Prince,New Pomp'-'Carol of King Cnut'. Eventually, Britten reordered them into a "Christmas Suite". It's first complete performance waas given as part of the 1991 Adelburgh Festival by the Britten Singers.
"A Boy was Born", for mixed voices and boys' choir, is written in the form of an instrumental theme and variatons. There are five variations in sequence on a theme heard at the outset. They are:(1) A Boy Was Born (2) Variation 1 'Lullay,Jesu' derived form the theme in the form of a 'lullay' ostinato thruout (3) Variation 2 'Herod" is a scherzo that includes superimposed (Bartokian) 4ths. (4) Variation 3 'Jesu, As Thou Art Our Saviour' juxtaposes choral homophony with lovely pentatonic melismas from the Boys Choir (5) Variation 4 'The Three Kings' consists of a processional coming out of the distance, passing by, and disappearing (6) Variation 5 'In the Bleak Midwinter' the folk-song melody of the 'Corpus Christi Carol (boys choir) is heard against a background of women's voices. (7) the 'Finale-Noel' comprises an elaborate and very exciting rondo structure in which additional carols are incorporated in episodes.The first performance of 'A Boy is Born' was given Feb.23, 1934.
Britten set a poem by Auden ( a friend of his) 'A Shepherd' s Carol' in March of 1942. Auden suggested that the accompanying music should be either Jazz or folk-song, and Britten complied; thus the easy laid-back nature of the setting, redolent of American "pop" music
The recording is completed by a pair of compositions unrelated to Christmas, but fine examples of Britten's liturgical music.
The Holst Singers have long been one of my favorite choral groups, largely because they often sing repertoire that is not as commonly performed or recorded; not the case, however, with this disc. There is an excellent boy soprano featured in parts of 'A Boy Was Born' (Connor Burrowes)and a very enjoyable quartet in 'A Hymn To The Virgin'. Susan Gritton (soprano) and Catherine Wyn-Rogers (contralto)contribute beautifully in their solo passages and The St. Paul's Cathedral Choristers are delightfully divine!
What a wonderful collection of music, and performed superbly by all participants! The genius of Britten is displayed herein for all to marvel and enjoy.!!!!
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"A Boy Was Born" is pure genius!
Submitted on: 2004-11-25 |
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| I can't agree more with David Vernier's review above. "A Boy was Born" is one of my favorite choral works in existence. This recording is the best of the three that I've heard (the others being The Sixteen/Collins and Corydon Singers/Hyperion). |
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