Be All Merry

No fewer than half the choir’s two-dozen members step out for solos, revealing the in-depth quality of Earley’s singers. The glowing tonal blend that he elicits is a constant pleasure, and there’s... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2020, More…

Release Date: 16th Oct 2020
Catalogue No: SIGCD643
Label: Signum
Length: 49 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

27th November 2020

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Culloton: In dulci jubilo

3:33

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Desmond Earley

Desmond, E: Be All Merry

3:20

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Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Katherine Hunka
Desmond Earley

Høybye: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

1:54

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Desmond Earley

Agnew, E: Curoo Curoo

3:14

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Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Desmond Earley

Earley: The Adoration of the Magi

5:53

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Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Tristan Russcher, Katherine Hunka
Desmond Earley

Ó Cearbhaill: Suantraí

2:34

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Niamh McCullough
Desmond Earley

Earley: The Wexford Carol

4:51

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Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Mark Waters
Desmond Earley

Makor: O Magnum Mysterium

4:33

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Max O’Neill, Eleanor Coleman
Desmond Earley

Antognini: Christe, Redemptor Omnium

5:23

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Aoife Nic Athlaoich, Katherine Hunka, Declan Wildes
Desmond Earley

Mac Domhnaill: Cró na Nollag

2:36

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Emily Doyle, Kiri O’Neill
Desmond Earley

Leontovich: Carol of the Bells

2:09

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Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Desmond Earley

Martin, Hugh: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2:56

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Simon Morgan
Desmond Earley

Kachelmeier: We Toast the Days

2:52

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Ivan O’Neill, Ciarán O’Donovan
Desmond Earley

Earley: Auld Lang Syne

3:52

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The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, Kiri O’Neill
Desmond Earley

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Recording of the Week, A Christmas double-bill from Mexico and Ireland

27th November 2020

Two glorious albums from Siglo de Oro and the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin bring us onto the final straight to Christmas – focusing on Central American and Gaelic festive celebrations.

The Choral Scholars is an internationally acclaimed chamber choir of gifted student singers led by founding Artistic Director, Dr. Desmond Earley, based at University College Dublin College of Arts & Humanities. Scholars come from various academic disciplines and commit to an intensive programme of choral study.

Be all Merry is one of three new pieces especially composed for the Choral Scholars. This lively carol for choir, orchestra and violin by Irish composer Eoghan Desmond evokes the joyful play of Christmas in the lines ‘Be all merry in this house/Exultet celum laudibus!’. The recording contains a remarkable setting of the Advent plainsong hymn Christe Redemptor Omnium for tenor solo, chorus, violin and violoncello by Ivo Antognini, crafted for Choral Scholars with the kind support of the Swiss Embassy in Dublin. The Adoration of the Magi by American composer Timothy Stephens is a breathtaking setting of W. B. Yeats’ poetry. A beautiful Irish-language lullaby – Cró na Nollag – set by father and son, Adhamhnán and Uinseann Mac Domhnaill, and the much-loved Scottish tune simply titled Suantraí, are also included. The Irish Chamber Orchestra are also featured on a number of tracks including The Wexford Carol and Carol of the Bells. The choir closes the album with the song most associated with friendship, hope and the promise of a new year, Auld Lang Syne.

The post-production phase of this recording project took place as the world grappled with the outbreak of COVID-19. American composer Linda Kachelmeier’s piece – We Toast the Days – serves as a reminder of the strength, love and hope that resonates throughout the world not simply at Christmastide but also during periods of hardship

Reviews

Christmas 2020

No fewer than half the choir’s two-dozen members step out for solos, revealing the in-depth quality of Earley’s singers. The glowing tonal blend that he elicits is a constant pleasure, and there’s a real emotional connection in the performances.

27th November 2020

A contemporary, and unmistakeably Irish, take on the Christmas tradition...the Scholars, and soloists Kiri O’Neill and Emily Doyle, achieve a beautifully delicate, almost vulnerable sound in Elaine Agnew’s Curoo Curoo, Fionntán Ó Cearbhaill’s Scots lullaby Suantraí and Adhamhnán Mac Domhnaill’s evocative Cró na Nollag.

Be All Merry

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Recording of the Week, A Christmas double-bill from Mexico and Ireland