In this extraordinary year for the whole world it is inspiring to reflect on the Advent journey from darkness to light.
This recording, made just before the pandemic-imposed lockdown began in March, includes beautiful Advent carols and anthems, interspersed with the traditional O Antiphons .
There is a selection of well-established and more recent works for Advent, giving an approachable programme blending the familiar and the unfamiliar.
The recording was made in the radiant acoustic of The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel close to the choir's home of St Patrick's Cathedral - which was unavailable to record in, due to roof works taking place at the time.
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir is made up of 24 boy choristers, the girls choir (24 choristers and 16 scholars), 8 lay vicars choral, and a number of choral scholars. The choristers are educated at St Patrick's Choir school, the oldest choir school in Ireland, founded in 1432.
The main function of the choir today is the same as it has always been: to adorn the daily offices with hymns, psalms, canticles and anthems. It is the only cathedral in the British isles to maintain daily sung Matins.
The choir is well-known for its annual broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve on RTÉ radio, as well as annual broadcasts for Saint Patrick's Day & Remembrance Sunday.
This is the fourth recording from St Patrick's Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Stuart Nicholson, on the Regent label.