The Oxford Book of Flexible Carols is the perfect resource for choirs of all types and sizes. Each piece is presented with flexible scoring options, clearly explained throughout, enabling performance by various combinations of singers. Variety of composers, including Kerry Andrew, Malcolm Archer, Alan Bullard, Bob Chilcott, Stephen Cleobury, Cecilia McDowall, John Rutter, Mack Wilberg, and David Willcocks. Wide range of material, from Medieval to the present day and including wassails, gallery carols, world carols, and spirituals. With carols for Advent, Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany, and a fabulous range of accessible, quality material, this is a must-have collection for all choirs at Christmas.

Songlist: A babe is born, A little child there is yborn, Adam lay ybounden, Angels, from the realms of glory, Away in a manger, Away With Your Sorrows, Born this day is the Son of God, Cantemos a Maria, Child of the stable's secret birth, Christmas-tide, Christmas Lullaby, Come and Worship!, Come, let us all with heart and voice, Coventry Carol, Ding dong! merrily on high, Falantidida, Gaudete!, Gloucestershire Wassail, Gold for a manger bed, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Good Christians all, rejoice, His Praises We'll Sing, Il est ne, le divin enfant, In the Beginning, In the bleak mid-winter, Infant holy, infant lowly, Jesus Christ is here!, Mary's Cradle Song, Natus est Immanuel, Now is the Time for Christemas!, and more

Merrily On High is an exciting compilation of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany music for church, cathedral, school, youth and community choirs of 'upper voices' - trebles or sopranos and altos. Thirty pieces are included, eleven published for the first time. Contents include new settings and arrangements of familiar and lesser known carols, a 3-part Advent Responsory and Mark Blatchly's setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B flat. Lyrics are in English, French, German, Latin and Polish. Includes invaluable historical and performance notes for each piece by Barry Rose.

Songlist: Adam Lay Ybounden, An Advent Responsory: I Look From Afar, Come, Thou Redeemer of Earth, Brightest and Best, A Child Is Born, Come, Watch With Us This Christmas Night, Down In Yon Forest, Fum, Fum, Fum, Gabriel's Message, Go, Tell It On The Mountain, When Christ Was Born of Mary Free, The Holly and the Ivy, How Far is it to Bethlehem?, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, Myn Lynking, No Room at the Inn, Now the Most High Is Born, O This Night is Born Noel, People, Look East, Two Polish Carols, Rejoice and be Merry, The Shepherd's Farewell, Say, Where is He Born?, Silent Night, Still, Still, Still, Sweet Was The Song, Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day, Torches!, Watts's Cradle Hymn, Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?

A perfect example of the young Britten's masterful vocal writing in a Christmas choral suite destined to become a major repertoire work.

Songlist: Christ's Nativity, Sweet was the Song, Preparations, New Price, New Pomp and Carol of King Cnut.

These Christmas carols have become contemporary classics. The Serene Sweet Was the Song contrasts with a moving lament on the hardships of Christmas, A Wealdon Trio, and a memorable setting of Hardy's fine poem The Oxen.

Songlist: Sweet Was the Song, A Wealden Trio, The Oxen

Rene Clausen, conductor of the Concordia Choir, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. He holds a Master's degree in conducting performance and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Illinois. Here we present you with 6 of his most well known A Cappella choral selections, a must have for any large, advanced choir!

Songlist: Set Me As A Seal, Sweet Was The Song, Tonight Eternity Alone, Peace I Leave With You, Hosanna

In 'There Is No Rose of Such Virture' Robert H. Young sets Christina Rossetti's Christmas themed text to music with a beautiful melody and soft yet poignant harmonies. 'Songs of Nativity' include 'The Virgin's Cradle Hymn,' and 'When Christ Was Born of Mary Free,' two timeless Christmas gems. Another Christmas themed poem by Christina Rossetti is 'Before the Paling of the Stars.' This piece starts out with a tenor solo and later has 4-part harmony in the women's voices and 3-part harmony in the men's. The classic tune 'A Babe is Born in Bethlehem' is brought to us with elegant 4-part harmony with occasional divisi in some parts. The 6-part arrangement of 'Sweet Was The Song' would be a great addition to your Christmas program with its beautifully catchy melody. The triumphant harmonies of 'What Sweeter Music Can We Bring' will also wow your audience, perfect for a Christmas Eve celebration.

Songlist: There Is No Rose of Such Virtue, Songs Of The Nativity, Before The Paling of the Stars, A Babe is Born in Bethlehem, Sweet Was The Song, What Sweeter Music Can We Bring?

Choral fans will be very excited about the meeting of two of the most versatile musical minds of their generation, Rutter and Bennett in a CD that is Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice for May 2005 and on many lists for Choral disc of the year. The title work, "Sea Change," set to texts by Shakespeare, Andrew Marvell and Edmund Spenser, is 4 pieces, sometimes Britten-esque, dramatic, swirling, agitated, emotional, dissonant and always interesting. "A Farewell to Arms," written for the ensemble VocalEssence for a cappella choir and solo cello, are poignant poems of an old soldier's recollection of war. "A Good-Night " is a lovely motet written in memory of Linda McCartney. The last 8 tracks feature some of Bennett's most accessible works, which happen to be Christmas songs. "There is no rose," "Out of your sleep," "That younge child," "Sweet was the song," "Susanni," "Lullay mine liking" and "What sweeter music" are simply beautiful. The Cambridge Singers, directed by Rutter, are perfect, handling this difficult material with ease. "Sea Change" is a rare, very special recording!

Songlist: The Isle Is Full of Noises, The Bermudas, The Waves Come Rolling, Full Fathom Five, A Farewell To Arms, A Good-Night, Verses, Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, There Is No Rose, Out of Your Sleep, That Younge Child, Sweet Was the Song, Susanni, Lullay Mine Liking, What Sweeter Music, Puer Nobis

With our world changing so rapidly, with our means of communication accelerating at dizzying speeds, with our cultures and beliefs intermingling and becoming less well-defined, what does Christmastime mean to people in our world and how do we choose the music for a CD that will be appealing to listeners? In many ways the music on this CD, Yuletide Fires II, is a reflection of that current world. You'll find ancient Latin chant expressing the wonder of the virgin and child; familiar words and carols that connect us to a Christmas of our childhood; songs written in the 21st century that explore new ways to celebrate the joys of Christmas and hopes and possibilities of a new year. There are also tunes and tales that tell of traditions and transport us back in memory to that time of heightened anticipation. We are thrilled to have renowned mezzo-soprano Judith Forst join us on this CD - what a wonderful Christmas present!

Songlist: What Child Is This?, Alma Redemptoris Mater, A La Nanita Nana, Ubi Caritas, Ave Regina Caelorum, The Gate of the Year, Ave Maria, The Three Kings, Sweet Was the Song, In the Bleak Midwinter, Peace I Leave with You, Salve Regina, Koppangen, Cantique de Noel, Regina Caeli, A New Year Carol, O Tannenbaum, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, To Drive the Cold Winter Away, The Mummer Song, Christmas Time Is Here

Directed by the contemporary composer Rene Clausen, the Concordia Choir performs frequently, but not exclusively, modern works. This 1999 seasonal recording features several familiar holiday carols, such as Praetorius' "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming," but its appeal is also in the opportunity to enjoy newer, refreshing pieces, such as "How Still He Rests," with it's solemn oboe accompaniment. The eerie, yet beautiful tonalities of "Go Pretty Child," with its sibilant countermelody, are an example of how the Choir's approach is both delicate and unsettling at once. "Noel Aylsyen (A Haitian Noel)" bounces between the root and fifth, urged along in a springing rhythm, punctuated by handclaps. This refined and energetic modernism is exciting and supremely musical.

Songlist: Today, Heaven Sings, The Godly Stranger, O Magnum Mysterium, Noel Ayisyen (A Haitian Noel), Shout The Glad Tidings, Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Carol Of The Drum, A Spotless Rose, Go, Pretty Child, How Still He Rests, The Three Kings, Sweet Was The Song, The Exaltation of Christ, Advent Motet, Lost in the Night

There Is No Rose explores a wealth of repertoire drawn from the compositional output for female voices, from a wonderful group of British composers. The first part of the CD celebrates the centenary of one of the most prolific British composers of the 20th century, Benjamin Britten, while the rest of the program includes such gems as an incredibly moving setting by Tarik O Regan of a poignant poem by Anglican priest-poet Mark Pryce, a world-premiere recording of the haunting Coventry Carol set for four-part female choir by Lionel Salter, and Elgar s The Snow, a real showpiece for Les Sirenes and one of the works that secured their place in the Grand Final of Choir of the Year 2012!

Songlist: A Ceremony of Carols, Sweet was the Song, The Song of the Woman, The Oxen, Bring Rest, Sweet Dreaming Child, Coventry Carol, Jesu, Thou the Virgin-Born, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, A Lullaby for Becky, The Snow, Deck the Halls, Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day, A Merry Christmas

This album brings together some of Britten's most celebrated music for treble voices, accompanied and unaccompanied, ranging in period from 1929 (when the composer was still in his mid teens and a pupil of Frank Bridge) to 1967. " A triumph of the realist Britten" (Redlich) drawing largely on texts from Walter de la Mare's collection Tom Tiddler's Ground, Friday Afternoons (1933-35), the first of Britten's many works for children, was written for his schoolmaster brother, Robert and the boys of Clive House preparatory school, Prestatyn: choir practice used to take place on Friday afternoons. The twelve settings, with their witty piano accompaniments, belong to an England between two world wars, to an age of innocence, to a childhood time of Meccano sets and Hornby trains, of model boats and Arthur Ransome. These " enchanting fresh songs," Pears says, " a performance of which, given by well-trained boys and girls with their intelligent teacher at the piano, once heard is never forgotten". Their imagination and economy remains extraordinary. All are beautiful. Most are short. The last -Old Abram Brown - aspires to Wunderhorn Mahler (the slow movement of the First symphony). Together with Hymn to Saint Cecilia and Rejoice in the Lamb, A Ceremony of Carols, written "at sea, MS Axel Johnson March 1942" en route from New York to Liverpool via Boston and Halifax, Nova Scotia, helped establish Britten "as a master of English song"

Songlist: Friday Afternoons, Op. 7, Sweet was the Song, King Herod and the Cock, The Oxen, Fancie, The Birds, Three Two-part Songs, A Wealden Trio: Christmas Song of the Women, A Ceremony of Carols

Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College offers an academically education with a vibrant faith tradition. The Manitou Singers, comprised of 100 first year women students, have a repertoire that ranges from sacred to secular to popular ballads, and their performances have broad appeal on and off campus. This live recording is from the Singers' performance at the popular St. Olaf Christmas Festival, and includes 17 songs. Favorites are standards such as the carols such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem, "What Child is This" and "I Saw Three Ships," as well as lesser known pieces like William Mathais' "Susanni," Daniel Gawthrop's "Mary Speaks," David Conte's "A Stable Lamp is Lighted," Ian Kellam's "Alpha to Omega" and Benjamin Britten's "Procession and Balulalow" (Ceremony of Carols). There are some wonderful songs we are hearing for the first time, and beautifully done standards on this generous Christmas collection!

Songlist: A Christmas Carol, Susanni, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Lullaby Medley, Mary Speaks, What Child Is This?, A Stable Lamp Is Lighted, The Sussex Carol, Sweet Was The Song, I Saw Three Ships, Gloria, Alpha To Omega, Gloria, There Is No Rose, Gloria, Make A Joyful Noise, Procession And Balulow (Ceremony of Carols)

For their 25th season, current NLC singers and alumni have compiled this two-disc collection of favorite works from the past years. These works were taken from 24 of the choir's recordings, beginning with tracks conducted by founder Larry Fleming, and ending with selections from Hymns We Love to Sing, Vol II, which was recorded in spring 2010.

Songlist: Sing And Ponder, Donde Hay, Holy Spirit, Psallite, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Away In A Manger, There Is No Rose, The Glory Of The Father, I Heard A Great Voice, Out Of The Orient Crystal Skies, Wondrous Birth, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Who Shall Separate Us, Come, Holy Ghost, Nunc Dimittis, O Light Everlasting, A Christmas Carol, Now All Poor And Humble, Prayer To Jesus, I Will Sing To The Lord, My Friend Had A Vineyard, Inscription from the Catacombs, My Lord, What a Mornin', There Is A Balm In Gilead, My Soul - Jesus Loves Me, In The Beginning Was The Word, Ubi Caritas, Blessed Are They, Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One, Ah, Holy Jesus, and more

O magnum misterium combines the old with the new. On this CD of English carols from the 20th century, Polyphony interpolates Sarum chant to create a magnificent Christmas program. The carols were written by various English composers such as Herbert Howells, Peter Warlock and Richard Rodney Bennett and exemplify the great connection the English have with choral music. The Sarum chant, which was used at Salisbury Cathedral in place of the traditional Roman liturgy, is used purely to relieve the ear from the indulgent sounds of the carols. This CD includes Howells "A Spotless Rose" and "Sing Lullaby" which are possibly better known, but all of the songs are equally beautiful.

Songlist: O radix Iesse, Alleluya, A new Work is come on Hand, A Spotless Rose, Out of your sleep, Of a rose is all my song, There is no rose, As dew in Aprylle, O Magnum Mysterium, Bethlehem Down, That younge child, I saw a fair maiden, Sing Lullaby, Ave Maria, Sweet Was the Song, A Hymn to the Nativity, Lullaby my Jesus, Hodie Christus natus est, All and some, An Ode to the birth of our Saviour, Susanni, Puer natus est nobis, Benedicamus Domino, A Cornish Christmas Carol, Reges Tharsis, Here Is The Little Door, The Star-song, What cheer?, Lully, lulla thou little tiny child, Verbum caro factum est

A Christmas collection that attempts to narrow the gap between the music most performed (that written before 1900) and the vibrant work of living, working composers. "So gracious" the aptly-named Choral Artists combined beloved classics, fresh and original arrangements of traditional melodies, and some of their favorite (and previously unrecorded) works of Bay Area Composers. Favorites are Laurie Lee's powerful "Twelfth Night," Fenno Heath's flawless arrangements of "I Wonder as I Wander" and "What Child is This?," Herbert Bielawa's "Sweet Was the Song," William Billings' lilting, joyous "A Virgin Unspotted," "Ave Maria" and "Silent Night," both arranged by David Conte, Roger Nixon's 3-part "Wonders of Christmas" particularly "Christmas Greeting," Wm. Dawson's fine spiritual "Hail Mary!," John Stephenson's powerful "Milford" and Ruth Thornhill's "Snowfall," arranged by Gene Puerling. The eclectic and engaging "So gracious" touches, surprises and delights us with every song!

Songlist: Twelfth Night, I Wonder As I Wander, What Child Is This, Sweet Was The Song, In The Bleak Midwinter, A Virgin Upspotted, Sanctus, Almighty Father, Ave Maria, Glory To God In The Highest, Ave Maria, Virga Jesse Flourit, O Magnum Mysterium, Ave Maria, Wonders Of Christmas, Milford, Sherburne, Hail Mary, Deck The Halls, Snowfall, Silent Night

Amongst the exhaustive catalogue of recordings devoted to Christmas music, this particular example - focusing on works written in England during the Middle Ages and Renaissance - can be warmly recommended indeed. The performances, as ever by this superb choir, are polished and beautifully executed, and the program is varied both in terms of the selection of pieces (carols, motets, ballads, chant...) and also in the interpretations (usually choir or consort but sometimes 1 singer, occasionally accompanied by instruments - harp, lute, rebec/fiddle, drums). Furthermore, a number of the tracks constitute probably the best available performances of certain works.

Songlist: Verbum caro, Salutation Carol, Nowell, sing we, both all and some, Gaudete, Hail Mary full of Grace, Gloria in excelsis, There is no rose, Nowell, nowell: Out of your sleep, Remember O thou man, Quid petis, O Fili?, Sweet was the song, Lullaby my sweet little baby, Are rex angelorum, Drive the cold winter away, Nowell, nowell: The boares head, The old year now has passed away, Angelus ad Virginem, Nowell, nowell: Dieu vous garde, Make we joy, Verbum caro

For many people over the years, the celebration of the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany season has begun with the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a cherished tradition of the college for nearly a century. The first festival, in 1912, was a worship service in song for the college community, planned and directed by F. Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.. Performing both as individual groups and as a massed ensemble are: The St. Olaf Choir, directed by Christopher Aspaas; The St. Olaf Cantorei, directed by John Ferguson; the Manitou Singers, directed by Sigrid Johnson; and the St. Olaf Orchestra, directed by Steven Amundson.

Songlist: Messiah, Prince Of Peace, My Song In The Night, Comfort: Comfort, Narration, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, There Shall A Star, Lift Up Your Heads, Two Kings, The Best Of Rooms, From Heaven Above, Sweet Was The Song, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Gospel, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Gaudette, Silent Night, I Saw Ships, God's Son Has Made Me Free, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, Gloria, Shepard's Jubilee, Angels' We Have Heard On High, A Christmas Carol, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Narration, Glorification, Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres, Once In Royal David's City, Narration, and more

The Choral Project : Of Christmastide   

Though founded only in 1996 by Artistic Director Daniel Hughes, this ensemble of thirty voices has already begun to distinguish itself with an eclectic program. As part of their mission, the group seeks to unify diverse peoples, and the track list for "Of Christmastide" reflects this concern. Weighted somewhat towards the 20th century, with Williams, Tavener, Rutter, Holst and Lauridsen amongst the composers represented, the balance includes two Latvian carols, James McKelvey's arrangement of "Deck The Hall in 7/8" and the Nigerian "Betelehemu." Their sonority is broad and expansive, with an airy and open delivery. Some percussion and woodwinds on a few tracks.

Songlist: Hodie Christus natus est, Terly Terlow, Personent Hodie, Sweet Was the Song, Two Latvian Carols, THe Boar's Head Carol, Eso rigor e repente, Three Kings of Orient, Salvation Is Created, Carol From an Irish Cabin, A La Nanita Nana, Deck the Hall (in 7/8), O Magnum Mysterium, Wassil Song, Lo, How a Rose e're Blooming, Betelehemu, Silent Night

VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum have joined forces to offer an annual contest encouraging the composition of new carols. Over the years hundreds of worthy carols have been submitted. "Behold This Heavenly Night" presents the world premiere of some of these contest-winning carols alongside outstanding arrangements of more familiar melodies. Also included is the U.S. premiere of John Rutter's new "Carol of the Magi" and a unique arrangement of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" translated into Latin by Philip Brunelle and his son Christopher. 

Songlist: Ding Dong! Merrily on High, What Child, The Piping Carol, Un Nacimento, A Mother's Carol, I Wonder as I Wander, Sweet Was the Song, Night of Silence, See Amid the Winter Snow, In the Bleak Midwinter, The Shepherd and the King, Carol of the Magi, Calm on the Listening Ear, The Darkest Midnight in December, Jingle Bells, Welcome the Kin, The Virgin's Cradle Hymn, Behold the Dark and Bitter Night, It Fell Upon the High Midnight, Rudolphus Rubrinasus