Advent at Merton

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At the heart of this Advent service is a set of seven antiphons specially commissioned from seven composers for Merton College chapel. They work splendidly as a sequence...Peter Phillips and... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 22nd Oct 2012
Catalogue No: DCD34122
Label: Delphian
Length: 56 minutes

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Delphian

Special offer ends: 08/05/2024

This release includes a digital booklet

Delphian

Special offer ends: 08/05/2024

Martin, M: Ecce concipies

Work length2:10

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

trad.: Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming (Arr. D. Blackwell)

Work length3:26

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

Byrd: Rorate caeli

Work length4:13

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Peter Philips

MacMillan: Advent Antiphon

Work length5:40

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Christopher Watson (tenor), Anna Steppler (organ)
Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

Weir: Drop down, ye heavens, from above

Work length1:47

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

Praetorius, M: Hymnus in adventu domini

Work length1:49

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Anna Steppler (organ)

Alvus tumescit virginis

Track length1:49

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Skempton: 7 Advent Antiphons

Work length19:25

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Jeremy Kenyon (alto)
Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas, Peter Philips

No. 1, O Sapientia

Track length1:24

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No. 2, O Adonai

Track length1:20

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No. 3, O Radix Jesse

Track length2:25

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No. 4, O Klavis David

Track length3:36

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No. 5, O Oriens

Track length4:26

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No. 6, O Rex Gentium

Track length3:45

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No. 7, O Emmanuel

Track length2:29

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Heiller: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen

Work length3:18

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Anna Steppler (organ)

Byrd: Ecce virgo concipiet

Work length1:35

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Peter Philips

Praetorius, M: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (Arr. J. Sandström)

Work length4:29

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Emily Tann (soprano)
Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

Victoria: Ave Maria

Work length4:17

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Peter Philips

Excerpt, MacMillan: The Strathclyde Motets

Work length3:59

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Choir of Merton College Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas

O Radiant Dawn

Track length3:59

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About

The beginning of Advent is celebrated with a particular solemnity at Merton. For its second recording the college choir explores the musical riches that adorn this most special time in the church’s year, centring on a newly commissioned sequence of Magnificat antiphons from seven leading composers. Founded in 2008, the new Choir of Merton College, Oxford is led by newly appointed Organist and full-time Director of Music Benjamin Nicholas, and Reed Rubin Director of Music Peter Philips. The choir is rapidly emerging as a major force in collegiate choral music. The disc is recorded in the beautiful environs of Merton College Chapel, which has stood at the heart of the College as a place of worship for almost 750 years.

Reviews

Christmas 2012

At the heart of this Advent service is a set of seven antiphons specially commissioned from seven composers for Merton College chapel. They work splendidly as a sequence...Peter Phillips and Benjamin Nicholas elicit high levels of technical and expressive achievement from their student charges.

December 2012

The most notable chapel choir offering [this Christmas]...All the music is radiant, all of it is unexpected, including a set of seven Advent antiphons commissioned by the chaplain...and comes from a choir that's gone from being a minor player in Oxbridge choral music to becoming one of the most exciting groups in its area

December 2012

an absorbing programme including seven Advent Antiphons commissioned for the choir by the Revd Dr Simon Jones … The quality of the singing throughout is very high – this is an immensely accomplished and responsive mixed-voice choir … This disc is an impressive achievement in every way … Delphian’s recorded sound is beautiful.

31st October 2012

One of a handful of recordings that will stand head and shoulders above the flood of discs of music for the 2012 Christmas season

23rd December 2012

This richly varied collection of mainly contemporary music for Advent, most of it directed by Nicholas, is exquisitely sung...a fine seasonal disc.

21st October 2012

The fresh, well-blended voices show vitality and drill, but the basses, in particular, bloom beautifully in James MacMillan's Advent Antiphon and John Tavener's O Adonai.

October 2012

The singing is fresh and opulent, and delivered with a clarity and precision that sits pleasingly with the resonant ambience of the recordings.

14th December 2012

The radiant young voices, sumptuous acoustics and quality items s should make for gripping listening all year round.

22nd December 2012

a satisfyingly solemn, serious affair. Here, the Advent progression from hushed anticipation to bright, hopeful light is given extra weight by the varied choice of material sung...the mixture of settings ancient and modern succeeds beautifully...Lovely, in other words.

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