AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN - ALL YEAR CHRISTMAS MUSIC

KING’S COLLEGE CHORISTERS

There is something to be said for doing things differently at Christmas. Not radically different of course, some features are immutable like the annual disappearance of last year’s tree lights, then their failure to light up until the moment someone’s sent to buy some more.

But how about doing the entire shebang with music? It all goes better with a supply of seasonal sounds? This has been a revelation to me. Not any offering from the radio but heavenly beautiful music chosen to soothe the nerve shredding chaos of tree decoration, card writing or tying up the turkey.  Time to switch on the Clifton Cathedral Choir. It is an outfit out of the top drawer to sooth the frazzled pre-festival suppressed panic of even a pandemic-sized gathering. 

Endless recordings of King’s College Choir are central to Christmas round the world but this year it’s recorded. Shall we notice the difference?

For an all round-the-year alternative to the home grown King’s, the Bristolians fit the bill with a choral delight of wonderful songs . There are 40 singers - they sing a full Mass every week in the Catholic cathedral. And the subtle accompaniment comes from the Lochrian quartet, featured earlier this year in The Cambridge Critique, and now on their home patch as a skillful match to these terrific singers. This disc is particularly good value as it sounds Chrismassy but it’s title  ‘And I saw a New Heaven’, is from St. John’s gospel and begins with Parry’s thrilling Jerusalem. Originally, of course, a poem by William Blake this can be an over-familiar song, even tarnished by a nationalistic streak but this version brings a sublime spiritual quality to a glorious theme.

Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus is a beautiful follow-up, It is Psalm  42.1 ‘ As the hart longs for streams of water, so my soul yearns for you, O God’ and a more delicate harmonious rendition would be hard to find. This glorious collection goes on through lovely vocals highlights of which include the Finnish composer Arvo Part’s ‘The Beatitudes” which uses Jesus’ teaching , eight sayings which begin with the famous “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Cambridge’s own John Rutter features sublimely with the  hymn ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’, Psalm 23. A lovely comforting sound to bring in the New Year.

Just out on HOXA records