About the Music
The music which makes up this CD has a particularly British flavour to it even if some of the original melodies come from elsewhere. Original works by Blinko, Britten, Holst, Rubbra and Warlock are interspersed with arrangements especially made for this recording by Professor Howard Burrell.
Majestic carols such as Adeste fideles and In dulci ubilo are contrasted with more reflective ones like Infant Holy and Sing lullaby. Some of the big processionals like the great advent hymn Lo! He comes with clouds descending are given the grand treatment with brass and organ intertwining with the choir climaxing with a stirring descant and triumphant harmonization! In all there are nine carols in settings with choir brass and organ, one, Deck the halls, with choir and brass and the recording concludes with a lively extended version of We wish you a merry Christmas, again using all the forces.
Of the more reflective ones, seven are a cappella and four are accompanied. The beautifully simple Dormi Jesu of Edmund Rubbra epitomizes this along with the lovely A New Year Carol by Benjamin Britten and Holst’s extended version of Lullay my liking. Peter Warlock’s Bethlehem Down stands on its own as a miniature masterpiece. Of Howard Burrell’s arrangements, Sing lullaby must rate very highly with its internal drama, and Eia! Eia!, a setting of the 15th century German carol Susanni, makes a delicate contrast.
The Ashwell Carol, discovered and written down by Elizabeth Poston from the Hertfordshire village of that name with words by the local vicar, has a particular resonance even if the original melody was Russian and has been very freely adapted here, it is a little gem. Tim Blinko’s setting of O little town of Bethlehem provides a lively contemporary view of that carol whilst Tomorrow shall be my dancing day portrays the old English innovation as Christ characterizes his life as s dance.
We wish you a merry Christmas brings the CD to a lively conclusion. This arrangement was originally commissioned from Howard Burrell by Hertford Choral Society for their Christmas Concert in 2006 for chorus and orchestra. Here the arrangement has been re-visited and revised for choir brass, timpani and organ but still retains its original structure with an expansive fugato providing the central section. And yes, we still all like figgy pudding!
The word carol or carole is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin, believed to mean a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. Broadly defined, carols express religious joy and are often associated to the Christmas season. Carols are also used to describe late medieval English songs on various subjects with a verse and refrain. Often the verse and refrain (also called burden) alternate.
Carols suffered a decline in popularity after the Reformation in the countries where Protestant churches gained prominence (although well-known Reformers like Martin Luther authored carols and encouraged their use in worship), but survived in rural communities until the revival of interest in carols in the 19th century.
Almost all the well known carols were not sung in church until the second half of the 19th century. The collection 'Hymns Ancient and Modern 1861–1874' included several carols. Isaac Watts, the "father of English hymnody", composed "Joy to the World" which has become a popular Christmas carol even though it is widely believed that Watts did not write it to be sung only at Christmas.
In England and other countries, such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, there is a tradition of Christmas caroling (earlier known as wassailing), in which groups of singers travel from house to house, singing carols, for which they are often rewarded with gifts, money, mince pies, or a glass of an appropriate beverage. Money collected in this way is now normally given to charity.
The University Chorale and the
University Brass Ensemble are professional performers who, along with the University Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble give the University of Hertfordshire an added dimension in its music making. The University chamber orchestra was founded by Howard Burrell in 1973 and the other groupings developed subsequently. Overall they have given many performances ranging from children’s concerts to contemporary music and first performances but most especially they have been employed to perform student compositions.
For a number of years the Chorale performed regularly entertaining the graduands, parents and guests before the University’s degree ceremonies in St Albans Abbey and more recently the Brass Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra have been involved in recording works for the UHR label under their resident conductor Robin Browning.
This recording brings together the Chorale and the Brass Ensemble along with organist Samuel Hudson and conductor Robin Browning in a festive collection of Christmas carols, both well-known and lesser so. Many of the arrangements have been made by Howard Burrell especially for this recording.
St Etheldreda Church, standing just outside the walls of Hatfield House, is Hatfield's Parish Church. It is a meeting place for a thriving Christian community. The churches link with its patron saint St Etheldreda, a Saxon Princess, was established through the monks of the Benedictine Monastery of Ely, who owned the manor of Hatfield from about 930 until 1538.
The church has been repaired, altered, extended and rebuilt throughout its history, to suit the needs of the parish. The present church dates from the 13th century, although little remains of the mediaeval building. During the 15th century the Tower was constructed by Cardinal Morton and later the Brocket Chapel was added. The Salisbury Chapel (and vault beneath) was built during the 17th century to house the tomb of Robert Cecil, shortly after the completion of Hatfield House, which stands nearby. The church was completely restored during the 19th century, including a major reconstruction of the Nave and Roof, necessitated by the state of dilapidation and decay. More extensive sessions of repair have been carried out from the 1970s to the present day.
The church organ was originally built in 1873 by Walker. It too has undergone several costly overhauls and has been moved more than once. The present organ is electric and resides in the North sub-transept, close to the choir.
Though not a museum, the church houses many historically significant memorials and presents an impressive array of interior decoration. Over one thousand visitors come to see St Etheldredas each year.
Howard Burrell (b.1944) is Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Hertfordshire where he was appointed in 1972 to commence music activities. When he retired from his academic post in December 2005 he left behind a thriving Department embracing composition, technology and music industry business studies. He continues his connection with the University in his role in developing UHRecordings which he founded in 2006.
Burrell’s compositions including two symphonies (1998/99 and 2000) have been widely performed and three of his string quartets, Nos 3 (1974), 4 (1981) and 5 (2007/8) were issued on the UHR label (“and the birds sang too” Aylwin String Quartet UHR 020011014) in 2008. Commissions have included Occasion for brass band (Besses o’ the Barn 1975), Visions for Chorus, brass and persussion (Harlow Chorus 1978), Kings Variations (Kings School Cambridge 1985), Kaleidoscope for flute, harp, violin and cello (Pearce School Cambridge 1987) No Comment an electronic ballet, with Ian Dearden (1990), Wedding Song and Chorus for mezzo-soprano and tape,(Nato Welton 1995),Te Deum (Parish Church of St Andrew and St George, Stevenage 1996), Contraband for symphonic wind orchestra (David Johnston 2003), We wish you a merry Christmas (Hertford Choral Society 2006). In October 2009 his Anniversary for orchestra was premiered by deHavilland Philharmonic in celebration of that orchestra’s 40th anniversary.
Other recordings include: May the rain fall soft (Reflection - Ealing Abbey Choir UHR 20011003), Resonent in laudibus (Resonet in Laudibus - Plaxtol Scholars UHR 020011011) and Love came down (Noël - Plaxtol Scholars UHR 020011019). A number of his works for brass are included on Fanfares, Fancies and Fugues UHR 020011017 including The Hatfield Procession used in the graduation ceremonies of the University of Hertfordshire for the academic procession.
Howard Burrell was elected to Stevenage Borough Council in May 2007 on which he currently serves as portfolio holder for Children and Young People, Culture, Sport and Leisure.
All his recent music is published by Vanderbeek & Imrie Ltd. Visit
http://www.mapamundimusic.com
Robin Browning enjoys a busy conducting career in the UK, where he is music director of many orchestras including de Havilland Philharmonic, resident at the University of Hertfordshire. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, in addition to performing in Canada and China. Since making his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Barbican Centre, which was broadcast on Classic fm, he has conducted the Hallé Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of Opera North, St Petersburg Festival Orchestra and Ensemble Intercontemporain. Robin studied at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, with Ilya Musin and Myung-Whun Chung. He furthered his training in the USA with Joseph Gifford, in Estonia with both Neeme Järvi and Paavo Järvi, and privately with Sir Charles Mackerras. He is increasingly in demand as a conducting teacher, including running the conductors course at the University of Southampton. This is his fourth release on the UHRecordings label. Visit
http://www.robinbrowning.com
Track Listing Composer
Adeste fideles JF Wade Arr. Howard Burrell
Infant Holy Polish Trad. Eng. Words Edith M.G.Reed Arr. Howard Burrell
Ding Dong merrily on high French Trad. Eng. Words G.R.Woodward Arr. Howard Burrell
Eia! Eia! Trad. Arr. Howard Burrell
Silent night Franz Xaver Gruber Eng. Words J.F.Young Arr. Howard Burrell
Personent hodie Trad. Arr. Howard Burrell
A New Year Carol Benjamin Britten
Lo! He comes with clouds descending Trad. Words John Cennick, Charles Wesley and M.Madan. Arr. Howard Burrell
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day Trad. Arr. Howard Burrell
Lullay my liking Arr. Gustav Holst
God rest you merry, gentlemen Trad. Arr. Howard Burrell
Dormi Jesu Edmund Rubbra
In dulci Jubilo Words Robert Lucas de Pearsall Arr. Howard Burrell
Bethlehem Down Words Bruce Blunt. Peter Warlock
Deck the Halls C19th American Arr. Howard Burrell
The Ashwell Carol Rusian Trad. Words John Catterick Arr. Howard Burrell
O little town of Bethlehem Words Philip Brooks. Tim Blinko
Watts' Cradle Song Northumbrian Trad. Words Isaac Watts. Arr. Howard Burrell
Sing lullaby Basque Trad. Eng. Words Sabine Baring-Gould. Arr. Howard Burrell
Joy to the world Trad. Words. Isaac Watts. Arr. Howard Burrell
We wish you Trad. Arr. Howard Burrell
Organ: Samuel Hudson
Conductor: Robin Browning
University Chorale
Sopranos
Kathryn Jenkin
Amy Moore
Olivia Robinson
Rosalind Coad
Altos
Caroline Stormer
Susanna Spicer
Cathy Bell
Tenors
Philip Brown
Nicolas Keay
Tom Phillips
Peter Wilman
Basses
Michael Bundy
Simon Preece
Charles Pott
Philip Tebb
University Brass Ensemble
Trumpet
Mark Kesel
Julian Poore
French Horn
Gillian Jones
Simon de Souza
Trombone
Emily White
Miguel Tantos Sevillano
Tuba
Marc Easenor
Timpani
Nigel Shipway
Soloists
Lullay my liking
Kathryn Jenkin
Amy Moore
Olivia Robinson
Rosalind Coad
Ashwell Carol
Nicolas Keay
Susanna Spicer
Olivia Robinson
Philip Tebb
O little town of Bethlehem
Kathryn Jenkin
Watts' Cradle Song
Olivia Robinson