Theatre of Voices, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Paul Hillier – The Christmas Story (2011) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

This anthology of Christmas carols from the European tradition is not as banal a collection as it may seem. Paul Hillier’s intention here is to place himself in the context of history and musicology, his work being similar to that of Arthur Honegger, who at the end of his life composed A Christmas Cantata, which was based on various traditional songs, motets and folk songs.

Paul Hillier’s work is, as always, of a high standard. Four singers per party in the old English tradition of “Nine Lessons and Carols” which had its first outing on Christmas Eve 1880 in Cornwall. Two ensembles share a selection of texts and melodies which have been arranged for this recording: Theatre of Voices with a discreet accompaniment of theorbo, guitar and organ, and Ars Nova Copenhagen, an a cappella choir with an exceptional quality of style and intonation.

The dialogues come from the Italian repertoire of the seventeenth century from which the oratorio would arise. The music comes from the English, German and Italian popular traditions to which Paul Hillier has added some later pieces by Hopkins, Gade and Skempton. This unique story of the Nativity exudes a seductively interior atmosphere and wonder. – François Hudry

Tracklist:
ADVENT
1 | Rorate coeli desuper • Plainchant 2’31
2 | Veni veni Emanuel • arranged Paul Hillier 3’19
3 | Es ist ein Ros entsprungen • arranged Paul Hillier 3’26
1-3: Ars Nova Copenhagen
4 | Dum deambularet Dominus in Paradisum • Biasio Tomasi (fl. 1611) 4’54
Dialogue: The garden of Eden: God, Adam and Eve, and the serpent
Theatre of Voices
5 | Adam lay y-bounden • Howard Skempton (b.1947) 1’36
6 | In dulci iubilo • arranged R. L. Pearsall (1795-1856) 3‘21
5-6: Ars Nova Copenhagen

ANNUNCIATION
7 | Missus est Gabriel • Alessandro Grandi (1586-1630) 7’27
Dialogue: the Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear a child
Theatre of Voices

NATIVITY
8 | Puer natus est • Plainchant 3’03
9 | O magnum mysterium • William Byrd (c.1540-1623) 3’06
8-9: Ars Nova Copenhagen
10 | Voi ch’ai notturni rai • Giovanni Francesco Anerio (1567-1630) 6’10
A pastoral dialogue: The shepherds go to worship the infant Christ
Theatre of Voices
11 | Dormi, dormi, o bel bambin • arranged Paul Hillier 2‘01
12 | Liebe Hirten • arranged Paul Hillier 1‘36
13 | Andachtsjodler • arranged Paul Hillier 2‘26
11-13: Ars Nova Copenhagen

EPIPHANY
14 | We three kings • J. H. Hopkins (1820-1891) 3’55
Theatre of Voices
15 | Videntes stellam • Plainchant 0’33
16 | Personent hodie • arranged Paul Hillier 1’51
15-16: Ars Nova Copenhagen

THE HOLY INNOCENTS
17 | Herodes iratus • Plainchant 0’37
18 | Vox in Rama • Plainchant 1’11
17-18: Ars Nova Copenhagen

EPILOGUE
19 | Uebers Gebirg • Johann Eccard (1553-1611) 2’47
20 | Maria wallt zum Heiligtum • Johann Eccard (1553-1611) 3’12
21 | The holly and the ivy • arranged Paul Hillier 2’47
22 | Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå • Niels Gade (1817-1890) 1’56
23 | We wish you a merry Christmas • arranged Paul Hillier 1’34
19-23: Ars Nova Copenhagen

Personnel:
Theatre of Voices:
Sopranos – Else Torp, Abbi Temple
Alto – Linnéa Lomholt
Tenors – Chris Watson, Johan Linderoth
Bass – Jakob Bloch Jespersen
Theorbo & guitar – Fredrik Bock (Theorbo (tracks 4, 7, 10) by Ivo Magherini, Bremen, 2007; Baroque guitar (track 14) by Sebastian Nunez, Utrecht, 2010)
Organ – Bine Bryndorf (Organ (4, 7, 10) by Henk Klop, 1990, 4 stops: 8’, 4’, 2’ & Quint; Tuning: A = 440 Hz, quarter-point meantone)
Ars Nova Copenhagen:
Sopranos – Else Torp, Hilde Ramnefjell Dolva, Louise Skovbæch Korsholm, Abbi Temple
Altos – Kristin Mulders, Ellen Marie Brink Christensen, Linnéa Lomholt, Sine Tofte Hannibal
Tenors – Tomas Medici, Christian Damsgaard, Jakob Skjoldborg, Chris Watson
Basses – Asger Lynge Petersen, Jakob Soelberg, Thomas Kiørbye, Jakob Bloch Jespersen
Paul Hillier – artistic director

Download:

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