Artwork: Emma Chamberlain

Noël

The Plaxtol Scholars conducted by Marius Carboni
A second CD of music celebrating the birth of Jesus and honouring Mary his mother. As with the first recording, there are several exciting new commissions.

Cat. Number: 020011019 Year of issue: 2009
Duration: 44.50 No. of tracks: 16
Recording date: 6th June & 4th July 2009 Recorded at: St Martin’s Church, Brasted, Kent

Overview

This is the second Christmas recording for UHRecordings from The Plaxtol Scholars. Both concentrate mainly on celebrating the birth of Jesus, and Mary the mother of Jesus. As with the first recording, there are new commissions; these are Amanda Paley-Menzies' Resonet in laudibus and Howard Burrell's Glora Tibi, Domine, as well as first recordings of Michael Barlow's In Bethlehem, That Fair City and Burrell's Love came down. 'Resonet in laudibus' comes from 14th century Germany and as the detailed notes of Andrew Parrott and Hugh Keyte mention (in the New Oxford Book of Carols) it was particularly associated with the medieval custom of cradle-rocking which flourished in Rhineland nunneries.

The CD also includes Charles Wood's Never weather-beaten sail, which is strictly an advent carol. The inclusion of three organ preludes by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, grandson of Charles, adds a bit of sparkle to the traditional Hark! The Herald Angels sing. They are taken from Selection of Psalm Tunes, adapted expressly to the English organ with pedals (second edition, 1842), and as Parrott and Keyte comment, the interludes have been transposed down a tone. Interlude 1 was written for the tune St Mary’s, 2 and 3 for Old Hundredth.

Track Listing:

Track Title Duration Composer
1 Hark! the Herald Angels sing (with organ interludes by S.S. Wesley) 5.04 Felix Mendelssohn
2 Love came down at Christmas time 1.37 Howard Burrell
3 When Christ as born of Mary free 2.43 Hubert Parry
4 Mary’s Magnificat 3.08 Andrew Carter
5 Hail Mary 1.35 William Ferris
6 Welcome Yule 1.31 Hubert Parry
7 What child is this? 2.19 Traditional (arr. John Stainer)
8 Gloria Tibi, Domine 2.16 Howard Burrell
9 Nowell and Nowell 5.23 English traditional
10 Carol: In Bethlehem, That Fair City 2.09 Michael Barlow
11 A babe is born I wys 3.50 F. Bainton
12 Personent hodie 2.59 (from Piae Cantiones)
13 Dormi Jesu 1.55 Humphrey Clucas
14 En! Natus est Emanuel 1.47 Michael Praetorius
15 Never weather-beaten sail 3.16 Charles Wood
16 Resonet in Laudibus 3.18 Amanda Paley-Menzies

Album Contributors:

Executive Producer - Terry Neville
Producer - Howard Burrell
Chief Engineer - Daniel Halford
Engineer - Adrian Walker
Publication Manager - Tess Kullander
Design - Dominic Halford
Artwork - Emma Chamberlain
Administration - UHArts