Dancing Day: Music for Christmas

Dancing Day: Music for Christmas

$16.18
Total playing time [63:58]

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Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Fifth Avenue, New York
Sara Cutler (harp)
John Scott (conductor)

Sent to press just days before his untimely death in August 2015, John Scott's last recording is Dancing Day, a programme of works for Christmas, made with his beloved Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys of Fifth Avenue, New York. 

Recorded in the home of the choir in Manhattan, the recording is centred around two works for treble voices and harp performed annually by the boys of the choir under John's direction - Benjamin Britten's inimitable A Ceremony of Carols and John Rutter's companion piece Dancing Day. 

Completing a compelling disc that features medieval texts and themes are further works for treble voices - Britten's A New Year Carol and Patrick Hadley's I sing of a maiden. The boys are joined by the men of the choir for works by Matthew Martin, Philip Ledger and William Mathias. Also included is John's own arrangement of the simple traditional Dutch carol King Jesus hath a garden, penned whilst organ scholar of St John's College, Cambridge.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist
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'The abiding impression is one intimacy, innocence and wonder [...] This is a moving, memorable recital'

- BBC Music Magazine (Christmas Choice, 5 stars)

'The choir of Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York has been gradually building a reputation as a beacon of excellence in Anglican worship [...] The abiding impression is one of intimacy, innocence and wonder [...] This is a moving, memorable recital'
BBC Music Magazine (5 stars, performance & sound; Christmas Choice 2015)

'[John Scott's] sudden death earlier this year makes Dancing Day perhaps the most poignant of discs and bears testament to his phenomenal musicianship and taste. The choir is absolutely secure from trebles to basses'
Gramophone (Editor's Choice)

'The choir sings wonderfully, whether accompanied by Mr Buzard, Benjamin Sheen on organ, or Sara Cutler on harp. Several of the boy trebles [...] have lovely solo moments'
New York Times

'It's an excellent American reproduction of the English cathedral style, with nearly flawless vocal work [...] A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28, given a delightfully rich, limpid performance'
allmusic.com

'[...] a well-trained, responsive choir [...] The singing is accomplished and fresh [...] On this showing the premature passing of John Scott must have left a big hole at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue.'
MusicWeb International

'As one would expect from this stable, Scott directs hugely satisfying readings [...] the boys relishing the the challenge of Britten's astonishing virtuosity'
Choir & Organ (5 stars)

'This is a lovely recording of seasonal works [...] A lasting record of John Scott’s work with this choir'
Lark Reviews

'The 24 boys and 14 men of the Saint Thomas choir produce a magnificent sound, with that exquisite combination of musical precision, strength and insight that so typifies John Scott’s approach to music, and to fellow musicians.'
Deep Roots

© 2015 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2015 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10158
Producer & editor: Adam Binks
Engineer: John C. Baker
EAN: 5060262790625