To Bethlehem: Carols & Motets for Christmas

To Bethlehem: Carols & Motets for Christmas

£12.99
Total playing time [61:29]

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Kantorei of Kansas City
Chris Munce (director)

Missouri-based choir Kantorei of Kansas City and their director Chris Munce return to Resonus Classics with a sparkling and sophisticated recording of carols and motets for Christmas entitled To Bethlehem.

With a compelling programme of Renaissance and contemporary works for the festive season, this impressive chamber choir presents and reflects on the Christmas story through the journey to Bethlehem, including a number of world premiere recordings. Kantorei explores rarely heardRES works by Renaissance composers such as Giovanni Bassano, Melchior Vulpius, Jakob Reiner and Blasius Ammon combined with contemporary composers including Matthew Culloton, Ivo Antognini, R. Douglas Helvering and Kim André Arnesen among others.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

David Basden (b. 1957)
1. Alleluia! O virga mediatrix

Jocelyn Hagen (b. 1980)
2. O come, O come Emmanuel

Melchior Vulpius (c. 1570-1615)
3. Ascendit Joseph a Galilaea

Claudio Merulo (1533-1604)
4. Spiritus Sanctus in te

R. Douglas Helvering (b. 1977)
5. Ave Maria

Jakob Reiner (c. 1555-1606)
6. Hodie Christus natus est

Matthew Culloton (b. 1976)
7. Angels we have heard
8. In dulci jubilo

Giovanni Bassano (c. 1558-1617)
9. Angelus ad pastores ait

Blasius Ammon (c. 1558-1590)
10. Parvulus filius
11. Magi videntes stellam

Ivo Antognini (b. 1963)
12. O magnum mysterium

Matthew Culloton
13. Still, still, still

Blasius Ammon
14. Grates nunc omnes

R. Douglas Helvering
15. All my heart again rejoices

Franz Gruber (1787-1863)
arr. Ivo Antognini
16. Silent night

Kim André Arnesen (b. 1980)
17. Dormi Jesu

“

'Their singing is exceptionally good: flawless intonation coupled with an irresistible warmth and depth. [...] An appealing collection, and the recording has plenty of depth and presence.'

- The Arts Desk

'Kantorei, a delightfully light and springy choir, cleverly interleave attractive contemporary settings with rarely heard Renaissance motets...a well-sung, carefully planned musical journey really worth taking, with some excellent new material from Matthew Culloton and Douglas Helvering.'
The Guardian

'Their singing is exceptionally good: flawless intonation coupled with an irresistible warmth and depth. [...] An appealing collection, and the recording has plenty of depth and presence.'
The Arts Desk

'[...] I enjoyed hearing all the unfamiliar material. The Kantorei of Kansas City made an earlier recording of Music and Sweet Poetry for Resonus. I liked them then and I like their new Christmas anthology'
MusicWeb International

'There are some real gems here, with fascinating and adventurous harmonies and compositional ideas from both the Renaissance and modern composers. [...] The singing is impressive, both in solo and as a chorus'
Andrew Benson-Wilson (andrewbensonwilson.org)

'This CD combines unusual renaissance repertoire with contemporary works in a beautiful programme for unaccompanied choir. There are some arrangements of familiar material included in the newer works but mostly this is a journey of adventure and surprise.'
Lark Reviews

'The programme is constructed as a telling of the Christmas story, and the relatively unusual selection of composers (both Renaissance and Contemporary), ensures an interesting journey. This is an impressively performed disc, with the seventeen-strong choir switching between Renaissance and various contemporary modes.'
Planet Hugill

Credits
© 2016 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2016 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10175
Producer & editor: Adam Binks
Engineer: Josh Williams
EAN: 5060262790823