RUTTER: Music for Christmas – Polyphony Hyperion

1
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol Going through the hills on a night all starry[2’52]
2
Nativity Carol Born in a stable so bare[4’50]
3
There is a flower[4’12]
Cecilia Osmond (soprano)
4
Sans Day Carol Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk[2’52]
5
What sweeter music?[4’15]
6
I wonder as I wander[3’15]
Libby Crabtree (soprano)
7
Jesus Child Have you heard the story that they’re telling ’bout Bethlehem[3’07]
8
Wild Wood Carol Sing O the wild wood, the green holly[3’27]
Robert Rice (baritone)
9
The very best time of year Christmas trees and boughs of holly[3’29]
10
Away in a manger – Cradle song[2’23]William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921), arr. John Rutter (b1945)
11
Angel Tidings In all towns and villages both far and near[1’37]
12
Christmas Lullaby Clear in the darkness a light shines in Bethlehem[3’58]
13
Dormi, Jesu[4’46]
14
Love came down at Christmas[2’22]
15
Star Carol Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem[2’45]
16
Carol of the Children One for the star in the sky over Bethlehem[3’12]
17
Mary’s Lullaby See the child that Mary bore[3’08]
18
Silent night! holy night! – Stille Nacht[3’31]Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), arr. John Rutter (b1945)
19
Angels’ Carol Have you heard the sound of the angel voices[3’12]
20
Candlelight Carol How do you capture the wind on the water?[3’53]
21
Second Amen[0’53]
22
Donkey Carol Donkey riding over the bumpy road[3’25]

It has been said of John Rutter that he has become the musical equivalent of Dickens, synonymous with the season, and this magnificent choral collection represents the kind of Rutter repertoire that has been colouring Christmases around the world for more than three decades. Christmas music has always remained very dear to Rutter, who admits that as a student, the carol service was the ‘highlight of the year’. ‘Christmas’, he remarked, ‘is for many people the only time of year when they have contact with choral music’—an observation that will rapidly establish this CD as the absolute must-have Christmas record of the year. It is stunningly recorded by Stephen Layton, who once again directs Polyphony and the City of London Sinfonia following their equally magnificent release of Rutter’s Gloria and other sacred music (CDA67259).

The absence of this ‘come-in-and-warm-yourself-by-the-fire’ disc in January is guaranteed to leave a chill as bitter as the north winds! It is the perfect antidote to cold winter evenings, the idyllic soundtrack to the season, and will prove a great source of inspiration, nostalgia and joy to a great many people.