Coventry carol - 16th century - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
A boy was born in Bethlehem - Benjamin Britten - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Balulalow from A Ceremony of Carols - Benjamin Britten - The Choir of New College, Oxford
There is no rose - Benjamin Britten - The Choir of New College, Oxford
As dew in April - Benjamin Britten - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child - Kenneth Leighton - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Wassail - William Mathias - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Quem vidistis pastores - Francis Poulenc - The Choir of New College, Oxford
In the bleak midwinter - Harold Darke - The Choir of New College, Oxford
What sweeter music can we bring - Kenneth Leighton - The Choir of New College, Oxford
O remember Adam's fall - Grayston Ives - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Sweet was the song - Grayston Ives - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
All this time - William Walton - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Sussex carol - English traditional carol - arranged David Willcocks - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day - English traditional carol arranged Edward Higginbottom - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Once in royal David's City - arranged David Willcocks - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Rise up, shepherd! Spiritual - arranged Grayston Ives - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Remember O thou man - Thomas Ravenscroft - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
Sweet was the song - 16th century - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
While shepherds watched - Christopher Tye - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
O come, all ye faithful - arranged David Willcocks - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Track Listings (18) - Disc #2
The truth sent from above - Traditional arranged Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Joseph lieber, Joseph mein - Hieronymus Praetorius - The Choir of New College, Oxford,
Riu, riu chiu - Mateo Flecha - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Es ist ein' Ros entsprungen - Michael Praetorius - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Unto us is born a Son - arranged David Willcocks - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
All sons of Adam - Anonymous Scottish 15th century - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Christe Jesu, pastor bone - John Taverner - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
This is the record of John - Orlando Gibbons - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
Of the father's heart begotten - from Piae Cantiones 1582 arranged David Willcocks - The Choir of New College, Oxford
How beautiful upon the mountains - John Stainer - The Choir of Magdalen College
Ave Maria - Robert Parsons - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
From virgin pure - William Byrd - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
Laudate nomen - Christopher Tye - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
O nata lux - Thomas Tallis - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
Magnificat - from First Service - John Sheppard - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
Quid petis, o fili - Richard Pygott - The Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
There shall a star - Felix Mendelssohn - The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
The holly and the ivy - English traditional carol - arranged Henry Walford Davies - The Choir of New College, Oxford
Gloria — Christmas Music from England's great choral tradition featuring Oxford's top boys choirs 2 CD set in an elegant, book-like package. Choral music has flourished in Oxford for over 600 years, and principally in the a... more »ncient foundations at New College, Magdalen College, and Christ Church. New College, founded in 1379 with sixteen choristers and three singing-men, was first on the scene, and was the sole major choral foundation in Oxford until the choir at Magdalen was established just over a hundred years later in 1480. Both institutions were founded by bishops of Winchester (William of Wyckham and William of Waynflete, respectively), although the choir at Magdalen was conceived at a time when musical composition and the role of the choir were fundamentally different: the medieval music of the late 14th and early 15th centuries was small scale, mostly in three and (more rarely) four parts, and the vocal compass of each composition rarely exceeded two octaves. By the second half of the 15th century, however, there was a veritable explosion in compositional endeavour; works were conceived on a broad canvas, single works lasting up to 10 or 15 minutes in performance, and vocal ranges extending to three octaves. To this end, Waynflete endowed Magdalen with sixteen choristers and eight singing-men capable of tackling the most elaborate music of the time, such as that preserved in the Eton Choirbook. The last, and most elaborate choral foundation was that of Cardinal College (now Christ Church). Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a Magdalen man, set up his own Oxford college in 1526 and, according to his nature, demanded the best. The collegiate buildings were constructed on the grandest scale, and the choir, with sixteen choristers and twelve men and led by the great John Taverner, contained some of the finest singers in England, some hand-picked by Wolsey himself. A refined selection from the best of our Christmas music, performed by the pick of the traditional Oxford choirs on our label. There is music from the Middle Ages to modern times (including some twentieth century favourites), with an emphasis on the English choral tradition. Gloria comes with detailed notes on the history of Christmas music in England.« less
Gloria
Christmas Music from England's great choral tradition featuring Oxford's top boys choirs 2 CD set in an elegant, book-like package. Choral music has flourished in Oxford for over 600 years, and principally in the ancient foundations at New College, Magdalen College, and Christ Church. New College, founded in 1379 with sixteen choristers and three singing-men, was first on the scene, and was the sole major choral foundation in Oxford until the choir at Magdalen was established just over a hundred years later in 1480. Both institutions were founded by bishops of Winchester (William of Wyckham and William of Waynflete, respectively), although the choir at Magdalen was conceived at a time when musical composition and the role of the choir were fundamentally different: the medieval music of the late 14th and early 15th centuries was small scale, mostly in three and (more rarely) four parts, and the vocal compass of each composition rarely exceeded two octaves. By the second half of the 15th century, however, there was a veritable explosion in compositional endeavour; works were conceived on a broad canvas, single works lasting up to 10 or 15 minutes in performance, and vocal ranges extending to three octaves. To this end, Waynflete endowed Magdalen with sixteen choristers and eight singing-men capable of tackling the most elaborate music of the time, such as that preserved in the Eton Choirbook. The last, and most elaborate choral foundation was that of Cardinal College (now Christ Church). Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a Magdalen man, set up his own Oxford college in 1526 and, according to his nature, demanded the best. The collegiate buildings were constructed on the grandest scale, and the choir, with sixteen choristers and twelve men and led by the great John Taverner, contained some of the finest singers in England, some hand-picked by Wolsey himself. A refined selection from the best of our Christmas music, performed by the pick of the traditional Oxford choirs on our label. There is music from the Middle Ages to modern times (including some twentieth century favourites), with an emphasis on the English choral tradition. Gloria comes with detailed notes on the history of Christmas music in England.