Voces8 – A Choral Christmas (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Voces8 – A Choral Christmas (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:09:53 minutes | 1,30 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Decca Music Group Ltd.

VOCES8, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble’s release, ‘A Choral Christmas’, out on November 3rd 2023, showcases a joyful, cinematic soundscape-packed hamper of choral and orchestral treats. A Christmas musical extravaganza filled with sparkling, cinematic new arrangements of favourite carols from US composer Taylor Scott Davis. Featuring several world premiere recordings of brand new works and arrangements, including the centrepiece of the album, a major new work for choir and orchestra, Taylor Scott Davis’s dazzling setting of the Magnificat, originally commissioned for VOCES8’s LIVE From London festival. Also includes a serene and intimate new a cappella carol ‘The Sleeping Child’ from British composer Bob Chilcott written especially for VOCES8.

Ahead of the holiday season, the a cappella ensemble Voces8 presents a Christmas album that is decidedly British. The 15 tracks attest to this, all drawn from the traditional religious Christmas music of England, from Handel to contemporary composer Bob Chilcott. For the occasion, Voces8 has come together with the Voces8 Foundation Orchestra, an instrumental ensemble born of their philanthropic efforts in musical education and democratization. American conductor and composer Barnaby Smith also pitches in: many of the arrangements of the works presented on the album owe themselves to him. The result is highly sophisticated, vivid, and cinematographic…perhaps too much so? Or rather, let’s say that the bold artistic team fearlessly dives headfirst into the spectacular, greatly supported by the brass and string sections. Fans of music that is, perhaps, more subtle, will undoubtedly be a bit taken aback, but it’s quite difficult to not be won over by the great sense of festive joy that emanates from this album. – Pierre Lamy

Tracklist:
1-1. Voces8 – Handel: Joy to the World (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis) (04:11)
1-2. Voces8 – Kirkpatrick: Away in a Manger (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis) (04:00)
1-3. Voces8 – Chilcott: The Sleeping Child (03:22)
1-4. Voces8 – Wade: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis) (05:06)
1-5. Voces8 – I. Magnificat anima mea (Version for Full Orchestra) (05:35)
1-6. Voces8 – II. Shall I Rejoice (Version for Full Orchestra) (05:45)
1-7. Voces8 – III. Et misericordia (Version for Full Orchestra) (06:50)
1-8. Voces8 – IV. Deposuit (Version for Full Orchestra) (03:00)
1-9. Voces8 – V. Gloria Patri (Version for Full Orchestra) (06:26)
1-10. Voces8 – Traditional: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis) (04:47)
1-11. Voces8 – Gruber: Silent Night (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis) (06:45)
1-12. Voces8 – Traditional: In dulci jubilo (Arr. Pearsall) (03:14)
1-13. Voces8 – Traditional: Gabriel’s Message (Arr. Clements) (04:06)
1-14. VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra – Hewitt Jones: A Christmas Cracker (03:35)
1-15. VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra – Anderson: Sleigh Ride (03:04)

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