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Choir of King's College, Cambridge|Essential Carols - The Very Best of King's College, Cambridge

Essential Carols - The Very Best of King's College, Cambridge

Choir of King's College, Cambridge

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The two-disc Essential Carols: The Very Best of King's College Choir, Cambridge, finally puts much of the Choir's and conductor David Willcocks' recordings of traditional holiday music into one package. This music is what made the Choir famous, and, since the beginning of the compact disc era, has been available scattered over various compilations. For those who are serious about Christmas music, this album really is an essential. Although the recordings date from the early '60s, they still stand as a benchmark for later albums of similar music by other choirs. These are familiar English carols (plus a few adopted into the English tradition), music that would be used in services or other church-related events, sung a cappella or with organ accompaniment as they would be for those proceedings. The one exception is the final Fantasia on Christmas Carols, by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. Because the Choir sings for services daily, there is a reverence for the meaning and spirit of the music that isn't always found in holiday music collections. There is also a warmth in and a care for its ensemble work that represents a high level of musicianship from men and boys who are not necessarily studying to become professional musicians. This isn't something anyone would learn from the liner notes. All that Decca chose to put in the booklet was a track listing, as it would for a regular compilation album, which is something of a slight to Willcocks, the Choir, and the music, but at least these recordings are widely accessible again.

© TiVo

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Essential Carols - The Very Best of King's College, Cambridge

Choir of King's College, Cambridge

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1
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
00:03:37

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Charles Wesley, Author - Michael Bremner, Producer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Sir Andrew Davis, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Whitefield, Author - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

2
The First Nowell
00:04:48

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

3
While Shepherds Watched
00:03:10

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Nahum Tate, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

4
I Saw Three Ships
00:02:05

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harley Usill, Producer, Recording Producer

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

5
Ding Dong! Merrily On High
00:02:03

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Charles Wood, Arranger, Work Arranger - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

6
King Jesus Hath A Garden
00:03:57

Sir David Willcocks, Musical Director, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wood, Arranger, Work Arranger - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Translator - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

7
In Dulci Jubilo
00:03:38

Traditional, ComposerLyricist - Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Robert Lucas Pearsall, Arranger, Work Arranger - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harley Usill, Producer, Recording Producer

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

8
Unto Us Is Born A Son
00:01:54

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Translator - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

9
O Come, All Ye Faithful
00:04:12

Frederick Oakeley, Translator - Traditional, Author - Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - John Francis Wade, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harley Usill, Producer, Recording Producer

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

10
Away In A Manger
00:02:26

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, Author - William J. Kirkpatrick, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

11
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
00:03:04

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arranger, Work Arranger - Anonymous, Composer - Phillips Brooks, Author - Michael Bremner, Producer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Sir Andrew Davis, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Armstrong, Arranger, Work Arranger - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

12
The Holly And The Ivy
00:03:26

Traditional, ComposerLyricist - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Walford Davies, Arranger, Work Arranger - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

13
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
00:03:24

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1960 Decca Music Group Limited

14
See Amid The Winter's Snow
00:03:54

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - John Goss, Composer - Edward Caswall, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

15
Past Three O' Clock
00:02:31

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 - Sung in English (Johann Sebastian Bach)

16
Chorale: Invitatory (Extract)
00:01:37

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Christian Friedrich Henrici, Author - Jonathan Stokes, Immersive Mix Engineer

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

17
Ord: Adam Lay Ybounden (Extract)
00:01:26

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Author - Boris Ord, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

18
Gabriel's Message
00:02:45

Simon Preston, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Sabine Baring-Gould, Author

℗ 1959 Decca Music Group Limited

DISC 2

1
Once In Royal David's City
00:05:30

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Bremner, Producer - Henry John Gauntlett, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Sir Andrew Davis, Organ, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Cecil Frances Alexander, Author - Arthur Henry Mann, Arranger, Work Arranger - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

2
Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night)
00:01:54

Traditional, ComposerLyricist - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1960 Decca Music Group Limited

3
Rocking Carol: Little Jesu Sweetly Sleep
00:01:38

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Percy Dearmer, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1960 Decca Music Group Limited

4
Rejoice And Be Merry
00:01:47

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1960 Decca Music Group Limited

5
The Cherry Tree Carol (Joseph Was an Old Man)
00:01:48

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Edward Fallas Shaw, Arranger, Work Arranger

℗ 1961 Decca Music Group Limited

6
The Three Kings
00:02:41

Traditional, Author - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Peter Cornelius, Composer - Ivor Atkins, Arranger, Work Arranger - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - H.N. Bate, Translator

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

7
As With Gladness Men Of Old
00:03:20

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Michael Bremner, Producer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - William Chatterton Dix, Author - Konrad Kocher, Composer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

8
A Great And Mighty Wonder
00:03:10

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Praetorius, Composer - John Mason Neale, Translator - Michael Bremner, Producer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - St. Germanus, Author - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited

9
The Infant King
00:03:18

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Edgar Pettman, Arranger, Work Arranger - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Sabine Baring-Gould, Author

℗ 1963 Decca Music Group Limited

10
Balulalow
00:02:14

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Peter Warlock, Composer

℗ 1963 Decca Music Group Limited

11
Legenda (The Crown Of Roses) Op. 54, No. 5
00:02:13

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Geoffrey Dearmer, Translator - Alexey Nikolayevitch Pleshcheyev, Author

℗ 1963 Decca Music Group Limited

12
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
00:02:20

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist

℗ 1963 Decca Music Group Limited

13
Blessed Be That Maid Mary
00:02:34

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

14
Lute-Book Lullaby (Sweet Was the Song the Virgin Sang)
00:02:00

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Geoffrey Shaw, Arranger, Work Arranger - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

15
Myn Lyking
00:02:54

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard R. Terry, Arranger, Work Arranger

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

16
Personent Hodie
00:02:35

Gustav Holst, Arranger, Work Arranger - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

17
In The Bleak Midwinter
00:04:48

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Harold Darke, Composer - Christina Rossetti, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

18
Coventry Carol
00:02:12

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Anonymous, ComposerLyricist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Edward Fallas Shaw, Arranger, Work Arranger

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

19
Shepherds In The Field Abiding
00:03:01

Traditional, ComposerLyricist - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Charles Wood, Arranger, Work Arranger - George Ratcliffe Woodward, Author - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

20
Torches
00:01:28

Traditional, Author - Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - John Joubert, Composer - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Brande Trend, Translator

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

21
Fantasia On Christmas Carols
00:11:37

Sir David Willcocks, Conductor, MainArtist - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Choir, MainArtist - Hervey Alan, Bass-Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Raeburn, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1962 Decca Music Group Limited

Albumbeschreibung

The two-disc Essential Carols: The Very Best of King's College Choir, Cambridge, finally puts much of the Choir's and conductor David Willcocks' recordings of traditional holiday music into one package. This music is what made the Choir famous, and, since the beginning of the compact disc era, has been available scattered over various compilations. For those who are serious about Christmas music, this album really is an essential. Although the recordings date from the early '60s, they still stand as a benchmark for later albums of similar music by other choirs. These are familiar English carols (plus a few adopted into the English tradition), music that would be used in services or other church-related events, sung a cappella or with organ accompaniment as they would be for those proceedings. The one exception is the final Fantasia on Christmas Carols, by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. Because the Choir sings for services daily, there is a reverence for the meaning and spirit of the music that isn't always found in holiday music collections. There is also a warmth in and a care for its ensemble work that represents a high level of musicianship from men and boys who are not necessarily studying to become professional musicians. This isn't something anyone would learn from the liner notes. All that Decca chose to put in the booklet was a track listing, as it would for a regular compilation album, which is something of a slight to Willcocks, the Choir, and the music, but at least these recordings are widely accessible again.

© TiVo

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