The English Orpheus 40 - While Shepherds Watched - Helios: CDH55325 - download

Good rousing stuff — Classic CD More…

Release Date: 29th Sep 2008
Catalogue No: CDH55325
Label: Helios
Series: Carols, The English Orpheus
Length: 67 minutes

Michael Beesly: While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Work length4:42

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

anon.: Let an anthem of praise

Work length2:35

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Smith, J C: While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Work length3:08

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Timothy Brown (counter-tenor)
The Parley of Instruments
Peter Holman

Hellendaal: Concerto in E flat, Op 3 No 4

Work length3:44

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The Parley of Instruments
Peter Holman

Movement. Pastorale

Track length3:44

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anon.: Hark! how all the welkin rings

Work length6:27

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

anon.: Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber

Work length4:13

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Philippa Hyde (soprano)
The Parley of Instruments
Peter Holman

Key: As shepherds watched their fleecy care

Work length6:19

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Arnold, S: Hark! the herald angels sing

Work length3:38

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Claire Tomlin (soprano), Jennie Cassidy (alto), Adrian Peacock (bass), Timothy Roberts (organ)

Thomas Clark: Cranbrook

Work length5:08

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Handel: Georgia

Work length4:13

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Jarman: There were shepherds abiding in the field

Work length3:25

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Wesley, S: Rondo on 'God rest you merry, gentlemen'

Work length6:23

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Timothy Roberts (piano)

Matthews, William: Angels from the realms of glory

Work length5:28

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The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

Handel: Hymning seraphs wake the morning

Work length3:05

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Patrick McCarthy (tenor), Timothy Roberts (piano)

Foster, J: While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Work length4:55

$1.00

$1.25

The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
Peter Holman

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A Christmas record with a difference! This jolly disc revives the little-known tradition of 'gallery music', suppressed by the Oxford Movement in early Victorian times because it was too cheerful. The title track, for instance, is sung to the tune of 'On Ilkley Moor baht 'at'. Some of the tunes, and almost all of the texts, will be familiar, and all fifteen works vitally capture the enthusiasm of an age newly emerging from a century which had seen Puritanical rejection of the pomp of Christmas, a time, indeed, when 'While shepherds watched' had been the only Christmas hymn tolerated by the Church of England.

The performances on this recording are not meant to be an exact reconstruction of the way these pieces might have been performed by particular church or chapel choirs at the time; it would be futile to try to reproduce the low standards of ensemble and intonation reported in many contemporary descriptions of country choirs. In general, we have tried to find a performing style that draws on the best practice of the time, and matches the directness and vigour of much of the music. The vocal group Psalmody was formed especially for this recording and consists of professional singers, teachers and students drawn mainly from the Colchester area.

Reviews

Classic CD

Good rousing stuff

A Christmas collection of genuine novelty

The English Orpheus 40 - While Shepherds Watched

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