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Home , Boris Ord, I Saw Three Ships, Organ scholar, Philip Ledger, William Mathias

WITH ST JOHN’S Christmas with St John’s unhurried, easy-flowing vernacular feel as Sansom’s powerful verses, and the overall For many people, the pleasures of the Christmas structure is equally effective; the melody is 1 The Shepherd’s Carol Bob Chilcott [3.40] season can be summed up in a single word: first presented by trebles alone before the 2 The Holly and the Ivy Traditional, arr. Henry Walford Davies [2.54] tradition. However, perhaps strangely for a other voices softly enter, one by one, gradually 3 Sir Christèmas [1.33] world so steeped in the music and practices layering a serene pillow of harmonic suspensions. 4 O Oriens Cecilia McDowall [4.35] of centuries past, the English sacred choral The one fortissimo moment comes at the 5 Adam Lay ybounden [1.19] scene is as much about the new as it is the central climax, when all the vocal parts join 6 A Spotless Rose [2.00] in homophony, for the first and only time, 7 The Seven Joys of Mary William Whitehead [4.45] old at this time of year; Christmas presents 8 Dormi Jesu [4.56] a golden opportunity to present brand new to describe the angels’ voices. 9 Creator of the Stars of Night Plainsong, arr. [3.41] music to wide audiences, and the role played 0 I Wonder as I Wander Carl Rutti [1.46] by St John’s College in this area has Henry Walford Davies’ popular 1913 q O Little Town of Henry Walford Davies [4.49] been significant, as demonstrated by this arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy sticks w Traditional arr. [2.00] recording. A contemporary highlight on the to the tune first collected by Cecil Sharpe in e Three Kings Peter Cornelius, arr. Ivor Atkins [2.40] disc is the recent St John’s College commission, Chipping Campden in 1909, but spices it r Ding Dong! Merrily on High Traditional, arr. [2.03] Michael Finnissy’s John the Baptist, while up ever so slightly with the addition of extra t As Dew in Aprylle [1.57] the programme also includes Bob Chilcott’s dotted rhythms and syncopation. y John the Baptist Michael Finnissy [3.26] u Mary’s Andrew Carter [3.24] The Shepherd’s Carol commissioned by Stephen i People, look East Peter Tranchell, arr. Peter Marchbank [3.18] Cleobury (a former St John’s ) Whilst appearances of o Silent Night Franz Gruber, arr. Mark Blatchly [3.19] for King’s College Choir, and Creator of within sacred music are thin on the ground p Out of Your Sleep Arise Anthony Milner [2.43] the Stars of Night, composed by another for obvious reasons, William Mathias’s energetic a Christ, the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston [3.34] former St John’s Organ Scholar, John Scott. Sir Christèmas of 1969 is exactly that. Sir s Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day John Gardner [2.23] Christèmas announces Christ’s birth then tells Bob Chilcott’s exquisite The Shepherd’s Carol everybody to get drinking, and the music is Total timings: [66.45] (2000) is set to a poem by the English author correspondingly boisterous; the organ part and playwright Clive Sansom, which deals is full of delicious dissonances, whilst the THE CHOIR OF ST JOHN’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE with the shepherds’ arrival at the stable door. dancing modal melody is harmonised with JOSEPH WICKS ORGAN Constantly switching duple and triple time medieval-sounding fifths and fourths. DIRECTOR signatures give Chilcott’s theme the same www.signumrecords.com - 3 - Light versus darkness is the theme of Cecilia a series of scrunched chords widening out Creator of the Stars of Night (2007) is Simon Preston’s delightfully quirky, texturally McDowall’s O Oriens (2012), which sets eventually to return to B major for the clean, composed to a text whose origins date back varied and thoroughly unpredictable arrangement one of the seven “O” . Her bright closing triad. to a seventh-century plainsong , and his of 1965 capitalises on the original melody’s music celebrates the rising of the morning warm arrangement retains this plainsong quality. vivace bounce. star with richly luxurious, suspension-filled William Whitehead’s momentum-charged harmonic textures. arrangement of The Seven Joys of Mary The words of I Wonder as I Wander were The German composer and poet Peter (2010) couches the traditional melody in collected by the American composer and song Cornelius (1824-74) wrote three operas and Perhaps surprisingly, considering its beauty, jaunty, and symbolic seven-beats-to-a-bar collector John Jacob Niles from verses sung many songs, but to British audiences he’s Adam lay ybounden was the only musical form and the numerical symbolism continues to him by a young woman in Murphy, North best known for The Three Kings, or Die work ever published by Boris Ord, who was as the voices build in volume and textural Carolina. So, it feels rather appropriate that Kőnige, which is the third of his op.8 and choirmaster of King’s College richness through the verses – one voice in the this 1996 setting by the Swiss composer Carl Weihnachtslieder of 1856. We have Franz Cambridge between 1929 and 1957. A setting first verse, two in the second and so on - until Rütti should have melded the English choral Liszt to thank for the carol’s masterstroke of an anonymous fifteenth century text, it the sixth, when we suddenly drop down to tradition with the rhythms and harmonies though, because it was him who suggested leads us from the fall of man through to our a quiet solo over held organ chords. Then all of jazz and the blues. that Cornelius juxtapose his original solo redemption through Christ’s birth to Mary, voices return, the organ dancing beneath, baritone melody, composed to his own text, finishing with thankful praise to God. for the joyful forte concluding verse. British congregations are most familiar with with a piano accompaniment playing the O Little Town of Bethlehem in its setting Lutheran chorale, “How brightly shines Philip Ledger was Organist of King’s College, Dormi Jesu, or The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn, to the English folk melody, “The ploughboy’s the morning star”. This more well-known Cambridge from 1974-82. His A Spotless sets an anonymous Latin text with its dream”, but Sir Henry Walford Davies’ version for choir and soloist was arranged by Rose (2002) is, like Chilcott’s The Shepherd’s translation by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. John smoothly serene version of 1913 has become Ivor Atkins. Carol, a beautiful modern example of highly Rutter’s tender lullaby is a classic example of a much-loved alternative amongst . It effective word painting. The unharmonised his style, with its final blues-esque chord being begins with a solo treble recitative, of text Ding, Dong! Merrily on High first appeared antiphonal lines of its bright B major opening an especially lovely touch. from the angel’s message to the shepherds in as a French dance tune published in 1588. The suggest delicate purity. Then, the combination the Gospel of Luke. English composer George Radcliffe Woodward of simple monody and homophonic textures It seems fitting to include a work by John then attached lyrics for The Cambridge Carol is only broken once, over the carol’s three Scott (1956-2015), who was Organ Scholar It’s something of a mystery as to exactly Book of 1910, his fondness for bell-ringing loudest central bars beginning “to light… at St John’s during the time when George which sailing vessels I Saw Three Ships could no doubt leading him to hear a peal of bells in the dark..”, set in the tender key of B flat. Guest ran the Choir and thereafter retained refer to, Bethlehem being a considerable its melody. Soon afterwards, Charles Wood The spotless rose finally unfolds by means of a strong, fond relationship with the choir. distance from the Red Sea, but no matter. added his solidly jolly harmonisation.

- 4 - - 5 - Peter Warlock’s pint-sized, gossamer-weighted treble and mixed choir, the three only come The text of Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree may TEXTS As Dew in Aprylle deserves to be much better together for the final few bars. have its roots in the old English tradition of known than it is. First published in 1924, . Elizabeth Poston’s serene, smoothly 1 The Shepherd’s Carol much of its charm comes from the delicate Peter Tranchell originally scored his celebratory flowing composition of 1967 marries her chromaticism of the harmonisations, and the People, look East (1982) for alto, tenor and love of folk song with a traditional four-part We stood on the hills, Lady, constantly changing metre – flitting mostly bass, but it was later arranged with a treble hymn style. Our day’s work done, between five and four beats to a bar – which line by Peter Marchbank. It’s a great fun Watching the frosted meadows creates a smoothly flowing feel. piece, full of syncopations and changing John Gardner wrote a substantial number That winter had won. time signatures, and with a melody full of of carols, but it’s his infectiously toe-tapping The evening was calm, Lady, Michael Finnissy composed John the Baptist unexpected twists and turns. The organ part Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day (1965) The air so still, for St John’s Choir in 2014, and it went on is particularly delightful, strongly reminiscent that has achieved immortality. Bouncing Silence more lovely than music to win a British Composers’ Award. The of light music, and finishing with a humorous between triple and duple time signatures, Folded the hill. text is predominantly from the Gospel of cascade of chromatic figures. its already-lively rhythms accentuated by St Matthew, the Middle Eastern folk music tambourine and side drum beats, it seems a Gloucester was the original recipient There was a star, Lady, inflections refer to the location of Christ’s fitting piece to represent a composer who of Mark Blatchly’s arrangement of Franz Shone in the night, baptism in the Jordan river by St John. The combined a love of jazz (during the Second Gruber’s Silent Night. The comforting thirds Larger than Venus it was setting’s soft, rapt central chorale forms a World War he served in the RAF as a of his harmonisations, together with the And bright, so bright. visionary moment, interspersed by more bandmaster and dance band pianist) with a rich, hymn-like textures, reflect his love of lively sections, written in the style of the love of the English choral tradition. Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady, ’s Victorian musical heritage. He songs of sixteenth-century Spanish pilgrims It seemed to us then saves his only fortissimo for the final verse’s from the Jewish diaspora - ‘raucous, happy © Charlotte Gardner Telling of God being born climax, sung in German. pilgrims’ as the composer put it! The organ In the world of men. interludes are direct transcriptions from Anthony Milner composed his , Out Moroccan Berber recordings. And so we have come, Lady, of Your Sleep Arise, in 1959 to a fourteenth- Our day’s work done, century text. Energetic and full of satisfying Andrew Carter’s tender lullaby of 1986, Our love, our hopes, ourselves, contrapuntal textures, its joyful tone is Mary’s Magnificat, combines words written We give to your son. by the composer with those of the Magnificat accentuated by Milner’s use of rising motifs, from St Luke’s Gospel. Scored for organ, particularly noticeably in the successive Words: Clive Sansom (1910-1981) ascending scales of “Glory to God in the highest”. Music: Bob Chilcott (b.1955)

- 6 - - 7 - 2 The Holly and the Ivy The holly bears a bark, 4 O Oriens Ne had never our lady, As bitter as any gall, Abeen heav’ne queen. The holly and the ivy, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, When they are both full grown; For to redeem us all. et sol justitiae: Blessed be the time Of all the trees that are in the wood, Veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, That apple taken was; The holly bears the crown. Words: Traditional et umbra mortis. Therefore we moun singen: Music: Traditional arr. Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941) Deo gracias! O, the rising of the sun, O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal 3 Sir Christèmas And the running of the deer, and sun of righteousness: Words: Traditional Music: Boris Ord (1897-1961) The playing of the merry organ, Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness Nowell, nowell. Sweet singing in the choir. and the shadow of death. Who is there that singeth so, Nowell, nowell? 6 A Spotless Rose I am here, Sir Christèmas. The holly bears a blossom, Words: Advent Welcome, my lord Sir Christèmas! Music: Cecilia MacDowall (b. 1951) A spotless rose is blowing, As white as any flow’r, Welcome to all, both more and less! Sprung from a tender root, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, Come near, come near, Nowell, nowell. 5 Adam Lay ybounden Of ancient seers’ foreshowing, To be our sweet Saviour. Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs, tidings I you bring: Of Jesse promised fruit; A maid hath borne a child full young, Adam lay ybounden, Its fairest bud unfolds to light The holly bears a berry, Which causeth you to sing: Nowell, nowell. Bounden in a bond; And in the dark midnight, As red as any blood, Christ is now born of a pure maid; Four thousand winter Amid the winter cold, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, In an ox-stall he is laid, Thought he not too long. A spotless rose unfolds. To do poor sinners good Wherefore sing we at abrayde: Nowell, nowell. Buvez bien, buvez bien par toute la compagnie. And all was for an apple, The rose which I am singing, The holly bears a prickle, Make good cheer and be right merry, An apple that he took. Whereof Isaiah said, As sharp as any thorn, And sing with us now joyfully: Nowell, nowell. As clerkes finden, Is from its sweet root springing And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, Nowell! Written in their book. In Mary, purest maid; On Christmas Day in the morn For through our God’s great love and might Words: Traditional Ne had the apple taken been, And in the dark midnight, Music: William Mathias (1934-1992) The apple taken been,

- 8 - - 9 - Amid the winter cold, The next good joy our Mary had, Sleep, Jesus! Tenderly! To thee, O holy One, we pray, The blessed babe she bare. It was the joy of five; If you sleep not, Mother weeps, Our judge in that tremendous day, To see her own son Jesus Christ While she spins, in song she prays, Preserve us, while we dwell below, Words: Anon 14th Century German tr. Catherine Winkworth To raise the dead alive, good man: Come, gentle little sleep. From ev’ry onslaught of the foe. Music: Philip Ledger (1937-2012)

Words: Anon 18th Century All praise, eternal Son, to thee, 7 The Seven Joys of Mary The next good joy our Mary had, Music: John Rutter (b. 1945) It was the joy of six; Whose advent sets thy people free, The first good joy our Mary had, To see her own son Jesus Christ Whom with the Father we adore, 9 Creator of the Stars of Night It was the joy of one; To bear the Crucifix, good man: And Spirit blest, for evermore. To see the blessed Jesus Christ Amen. Creator of the stars of night, When he was first her son, good man: The next good joy our Mary had, Thy people’s everlasting light, Words: Office Hymn 7th Century tr. J.M. Neale It was the joy of seven; Music: Mode iv melody arr. John Scott (1956-2015) O Jesus, Saviour of us all, And blessed may he be, To see her own son Jesus Christ Regard thy servants when they call. Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, To wear the Crown of heaven, good man: 0 I Wonder as I Wander To all eternity. Words: Anon 14th Century Thou, grieving at the bitter cry I wonder as I wander out under the sky, The next good joy our Mary had, Music: Traditional arr. William Whitehead (b. 1970) Of all creation doomed to die, How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die. It was the joy of two; Didst come to save a ruined race For poor on’ry people like you and like I. 8 To see her own son Jesus Christ Dormi Jesu With healing gifts of heav’n’ly grace. I wonder as I wander out under the sky. To make the lame to go, good man: Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet Thou camest, bridegroom of the bride, When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall, The next good joy our Mary had, Quae tam dulcem somnum videt, As drew the world to eveningtide, With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all. It was the joy of three; Dormi, Jesu! Blandule! Proceeding from a virgin shrine, But high from the heavens a star’s light did fall, To see her own son Jesus Christ Si non dormis, Mater plorat, The Son of Man, yet Lord divine. And promise of ages it then did recall. To make the blind to see, good man: Inter fila cantans orat, If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, Blande, veni, somnule. At thy great name, majestic now, A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing, The next good joy our Mary had, All knees must bend, all hearts must bow, Or all of God’s angels in heaven for to sing, It was the joy of four; Sleep, Jesus! Mother smiles And things in heav’n and earth shall own, He surely could have it, ‘cause he was the King. To see her own son Jesus Christ Who sees such sweet sleep, That thou art Lord and King alone. To read the Bible o’er, good man: Words: Traditional Music: Carl Rutti (b. 1949)

- 10 - - 11 - q O Little Town of Bethlehem glad tidings tell; O, they sailed into Bethlehem, e Three Kings O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; Unto you is born this day in the city of David O, they sailed into Bethlehem, Three Kings from Persian lands afar A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Words: Gospel of St Luke and Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) On Christmas Day in the morning. To Jordan follow the pointing star: Music: Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941) And this shall be a sign to you; and this the quest of the travellers three, Ye shall find the Babe, wrapped in And all the bells on earth shall ring, Where the new-born King of the Jews may be. w I Saw Three Ships swaddling clothes, On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; Full royal gifts they bear for the King; And lying in a manger. And all the bells on earth shall ring, Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day in the morning. On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie! The star shines out with a steadfast ray; I saw three ships come sailing in Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, The kings to Bethlehem make their way, On Christmas Day in the morning. go by On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; And there in worship they bend the knee, Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, As Mary’s child in her lap they see; And what was in those ships all three? The hopes and fears of all the years are met in On Christmas Day in the morning. Their royal gifts they show to the King; On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; thee tonight. Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. And what was in those ships all three? And all the souls on earth shall sing, On Christmas Day in the morning. Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; The Kings are travelling, travel with them! is giv’n! And all the souls on earth shall sing, Our Saviour Christ and his lady, The star of mercy, the star of grace, So God imparts to human hearts the blessings On Christmas Day in the morning. On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; Shall lead thy heart to its resting place. of his heav’n. Our Saviour Christ and his lady, Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring; No ear may hear his coming; but in this world Then let us all rejoice amain! On Christmas Day in the morning. Offer thy heart to the infant King. of sin, On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; Where meek souls will receive him, still the Then let us all rejoice amain! Pray, wither sailed those ships all three? How brightly shines the morning star! dear Christ enters in. On Christmas Day in the morning. On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; With grace and truth from heaven afar Pray, wither sailed those ships all three? Our Jesse tree now bloweth. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; Words: Traditional On Christmas Day in the morning. Music: Traditional. arr. Simon Preston (b. 1938) Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line, Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today, For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine, We hear the Christmas angels, the great My soul with love o’erfloweth. Thy word, Jesu, inly feeds us,

- 12 - - 13 - Rightly leads us, life bestowing. t As Dew in Aprylle y John the Baptist Lord, thou art rich and I am full poor. Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing. Thou may bless all, since all thou wrought. I syng of a mayden When I have, in the name of the Baptist, Now help me, Lord, through godhead, to Words: Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) tr. H.N. Bate do this work, Music: Peter Cornelius (1824-1874) after That is makéles, The folk in water clear, then have I said that Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) Kyng of allė kynges After me shall He come that has more power And save mankind, body and soul, from arr. Ivor Atkins (1869-1953) To here sone che ches. Than I to judge; He shall give baptism endless pain. More entire in fire and spirit. r Ding Dong! Merrily on High He cam al so styllė Words: Adapted from York Mystery Plays [No.21: Barbours] tr. Michael Finnissy Ther his moder was, Thus am I come in message right, Ding dong! Merrily on high Music: Michael Finnissy (b. 1946) As dew in Aprylle To be the forerunner in true witness-bearing in heaven the bells are ringing: That fallyt on the gras. of that light. u Ding dong! Merrily the sky Mary’s Magnificat The which shall light in every man that is is riv’n with angels singing. He cam al so stylle come into this world. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! To his moderes bowr Softly a light is stealing, As dew in Aprylle Sweetly a maiden sings, My Lord Jesus shall come this day E’en so here below, below, That fallyt on the flour. Ever wakeful, ever wistful. let steeple bells be swungen, From Galilee unto this flood ye Jourdane call. Watching faithfully, thankfully, tenderly I thank him ever, but am a-feared And io, io, io, He cam al so stylle Her King of kings. I am not able to fulfil this deed. by priest and people sungen. Ther his moder lay My soul doth magnify the Lord: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! As dew in Aprylle And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. The heavens shall be opened and the Holy Ghost That fallyt on the spray. Pray you, dutifully prime shall down be sent. Mary her song to Jesus your matin chime, ye ringers; Moder and maydyn The Father’s voice with great joy be heard full right. Softly, serenely sings: May you beautifully rime Was never non but che; ‘I will love you, I will serve you, your evetime song, ye singers. Wel may swych a lady What needest he, who hath no sin, without within, May my lullaby glorify, magnify Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Godės moder be. To be baptised like mortal men? My King of kings.’ What rich man goes from door to door Words: G.R. Woodward (1848-1934) Words: Anon 15th Century To beg from him that has nought? Words & Music: Andrew Carter (b. 1939) with additional Music: 16th Century French melody harmonized by Music: Peter Warlock (1894-1930) words from the Gospel of St Luke Charles Wood (1866-1926)

- 14 - - 15 - i People, look East Angels, announce to man and beast Tön’t es laut von fern und nah: Blessed be God this game is begun Him who cometh from the East. Christ der Retter ist da! And His mother that beareth the bell. People, look East. The time is near Set every peak and valley humming Christ der Retter ist da! Glory to God in the highest. Of the crowning of the year. With the word, the Lord is coming. Make your house fair as you are able, People, look East and sing today: Silent Night, holy night! That ever was thrall, now is he free; Trim the hearth and set the table. Love the Lord is on the way. Shepherds first told the news, That ever was small, now great is she; People, look East and sing today: By the angel, Alleluia; Now shall God deem both thee and me Love the Guest is on the way. Words: Eleanor Farjeon (1881–1965) Sounding forth loudly far and near: Unto his bliss if we do well. Music: Peter Tranchell (1922–1993) Christ the Saviour is here! Glory to God in the highest. arr. Peter Marchbank (b. 1943) Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, Christ the Saviour is here! Now, blessed Brother, grant us grace One more seed is planted there: o Silent Night At doomesday to see Thy face, Give up your strength the seed to nourish, Words: Traditional German tr. John Freeman Young Music: Franz Gruber arr. Mark Blatchly (b. 1960) And in Thy court to have a place, That in course the flower may flourish. Silent night, holy night, That we may there sing Thee ‘Nowell’. People, look East and sing today: Starry skies beaming bright, p Out of Your Sleep Arise Glory to God in the highest. Love the Rose is on the way. Guard the Virgin Mother mild, Watching o’er the Holy child, Out of your sleep arise and wake, Words: Anon 14th Century Music: Anthony Milner (1925–2002) Birds, though long you’ve ceased to build, Sleeping in heavenly peace. For God mankind now hath y-take, Guard the nest that must be filled. Sleeping in heavenly peace. All of a maid without any make; a Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree Even the hour when wings are frozen Of all women she beareth the bell. He for fledgling time has chosen. Silent night, holy night. Glory to God in the highest. The tree of life my soul hath seen, People, look East and sing today: God’s dear Son bringeth light. Laden with fruit and always green: Love the Bird is on the way. Saving us from sin’s dark thrall. And through a Maiden fair and wise, The trees of nature fruitless be Giving life and love to all, Now man is made of full great price; Compared with Christ the apple tree. Stars, keep watch. When night is dim Christ the Light of the world. Now angels kneelen to man’s servyse, One more light the bowl shall brim, Christ the Light of the world. And at this time all this befell. His beauty doth all things excel: Shining beyond the frosty weather, Glory to God in the highest. By faith I know, but ne’er can tell Bright as sun and moon together. Stille nacht, heilige nacht! The glory which I now can see People, look East and sing today: Hirten erst Kund gemacht, Now man is brighter than the sun; In Jesus Christ the apple tree. Love the Star is on the way. Durch der Engel Halleluja. Now man in heaven on high shall won;

- 16 - - 17 - For happiness I long have sought, Thus was I knit to man’s nature, THE CHOIR OF ST JOHN’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE And pleasure dearly I have bought: To call my true love to my dance: I missed of all; but now I see Trebles Counter Tenors Basses ‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, George Balfour 2, 19 Hugh Cutting James Adams So very poor this was my chance, Joel Branston 17 Jack Hawkins Peter Lidbetter 13 I’m weary with my former toil, Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, Matthew Brown Thomas Lilburn Louis Marlowe Here I will sit and rest awhile: To call my true love to my dance: Oliver Brown 2, 11, 12 Hamish McLaren 2 Stephen Matthews 2 Under the shadow I will be, David Bryson Oliver Morris 2 Of Jesus Christ the apple tree. Then afterwards baptized I was; James Buttery Tenors Theodore Platt The Holy Ghost on me did glance, Alan Chen William Ashford 7 Organ Scholar This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, My Father’s voice heard from above, Blake Chen 2 Michael Bell 2, 12 It keeps my dying faith alive; To call my true love to my dance. Jaylen Cheng Benedict Flinn 2 Joseph Wicks Which makes my soul in haste to be Adam Chillingworth Xavier Hetherington Junior Organ Scholar Words Traditional English Carol With Jesus Christ the apple tree. Charles Cobb Gopal Kambo Music John Gardner (1917–2011) Glen Dempsey Lewis Cobb Words Traditional American Alfred Harrison 2 Dean of Chapel Director of Music Music Elizabeth Poston (1905-87) James Lewis Duncan Dormor Andrew Nethsingha

Alexander Tomkinson 2 s Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day Percussion Philip Tomkinson Numbers indicate soloist credits Derek Scurll Sebastian Wade for each CD track. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: Glen Dempsey I would my true love did so chance Samuel Williams To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance: The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge expressive sound and is today directed by Sing, O my love, O my love, my love, my love; is one of the finest choirs of men and boys Andrew Nethsingha. This have I done for my true love. in the world, known and loved by millions from its recordings, broadcasts and concert The Choir is made up of 20 Choristers Then was I born of a virgin pure, tours. A cornerstone of the great English and Probationers who are educated at St Of her I took fleshly substance; choral tradition since the 1670s, the Choir John’s College School. The alto, tenor and is recognised for its distinctive, rich and bass parts are usually taken by 15 Choral

- 18 - - 19 - Scholars who are students in the University, with A key innovation of Nethsingha’s is the Renowned for championing contemporary John McCabe, Michael Finnissy, Tim Watts, two Organ Scholars assisting in the daily running establishment of St John’s Sinfonia, a music, the Choir regularly commissions new James Burton, Philip Moore, Alex Woolf, of the Choir. Services in the College Chapel professional period ensemble formed with work. Since 2014 the Choir has performed James Welland and Ben Comeau. follow the Cathedral tradition of the Church Margaret Faultless in 2011, with which the world premieres of works by Nico Muhly, www.sjcchoir.co.uk of England with daily during term Choir gives termly liturgical performances of and Sung Eucharist on Sunday mornings. The Bach . Choir’s services are frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3. On the concert platform, Under Nethsingha and former directors of the Choir regularly performs in high-profile music , Christopher Robinson venues around the UK, with orchestras and and David Hill, the Choir has produced an ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic extraordinary and extensive discography on Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra Decca, EMI, Naxos, Hyperion and other and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Its busy labels. In 2009 the Choir signed to Chandos international touring schedule includes the Records and its eleven recent CDs on the label USA, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, – which span music from across 500 years – Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe. have garnered international critical acclaim. Under Nethsingha’s direction, the singers Chandos releases included discs of music by receive a unique musical education in an Mozart, Purcell, Sheppard, Tomkins and S S extremely varied breadth of repertoire, from Wesley, and a CD of Lassus featuring many Renaissance polyphony and Haydn masses previously unrecorded . This Christmas to 20th century and specially commissioned disc marks the second release on the new contemporary music. Committed to engaging St John’s Cambridge imprint with Signum with a wide audience through digital Records, the first being a collection of choral innovations, St John’s was the first British music by Jonathan Harvey, released in choir to broadcast its services in weekly May 2016; future plans include recordings webcasts, and in 2011 it launched SJC Live, by world-class musicians from the College a unique online archive for music lovers and alumni community, as well as music and choral directors. from the Choir.

- 20 - - 21 - ANDREW NETHSINGHA He has served as President of the Cathedral BBC Proms, Amsterdam Concertgebouw DIRECTOR OF MUSIC ’ Association. He has worked with and Tokyo Suntory Hall. He regularly runs some of the UK’s leading orchestras. Andrew’s choral courses in various countries. Performing as a conductor and organist in concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra North America, South Africa, the Far East, and have included many of the major choral His concerts during 2014 and 2015 included throughout Europe, Andrew Nethsingha has works: Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Beethoven’s Verbier Festival Switzerland, Hong Kong City been Director of Music at St John’s College, 9th Symphony, Britten War Requiem, Brahms Hall, Mexico City, St Blasien Germany, Cambridge since 2007. His innovations at Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius London, University of St John’s have included weekly webcasts, a and The Kingdom, Walton Belshazzar’s Feast, Velacruz, Grand Rapids Choir of Men termly Bach series and the establishment Poulenc Gloria and DurufléRequiem. He has and Boys USA, Symphony Hall Birmingham, of a new St John’s College recording label also worked with the Royal Philharmonic The Esplanade Singapore, Liesse Boys in conjunction with Signum. His recordings Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Choir France, Royal Albert Hall London. have been enthusiastically reviewed. “The Call”, Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, In November 2015 he conducted Mozart (2015), was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone Britten Sinfonia, the Aarhus Symfoniorkester Requiem and Haydn Nelson Mass with Magazine. “Deo”, a collection of music by and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Recent St Thomas Choir and Orchestra of St Jonathan Harvey (2016), received five star engagements have included the Luke’s in New York City. reviews in The Observer, BBC Music Magazine and Choir & Organ.

Andrew Nethsingha received his early musical training as a chorister at , where his father was organist for over a quarter of a century. He later studied at the , where he won Cathedral. He was subsequently Director of seven prizes, and at St John’s College, Music at Truro and Gloucester . Cambridge. He held Organ Scholarships Other recent positions have included under Christopher Robinson, at St George’s Artistic Director of the Gloucester Three Windsor, and George Guest, at St John’s, Choirs Festival and Musical Director of the before becoming Assistant Organist at Wells Gloucester Choral Society.

- 22 - - 23 - JOSEPH WICKS HERBERT HOWELLS ORGAN SCHOLAR

Joseph Wicks spent three years as Organ Scholar at St John’s, while reading Music. He is currently spending a further year there as Assistant Organist. He has also been Musical Director of the Gentlemen of St John’s.

He spent his gap year as Organ Scholar at and before this he was the Walter Stanton Music Scholar and Sixth Form Organ Scholar at Lancing College. He began his musical education as a chorister, later Bishop’s (Head) Chorister, at . Wicks began playing the organ 10 years ago and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO), having won the coveted Limpus Prize. Recent recital venues include King’s, Queen’s, and St. John’s Colleges in Cambridge, and Hereford and Wells Cathedrals. as committed as possible to singing. A Joseph Wicks plays for daily services of St graduate of the prestigious Genesis Sixteen John’s College Choir and also accompanies training scheme, Wicks now sings with the it on its busy broadcast, recording, and Gesualdo Six, a vocal sextet whose members international tour schedules, most recently were St. John’s Smith Square Young Artists in Singapore, Hong Kong, The Netherlands for the 2015–16 season and have performed and the USA. In addition, he remains on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune.

- 24 - - 25 - Publishers All except Ord; arr. Preston; Rütti; Milner (Novello) Warlock; Poston; arr. Wood (Boosey & Hawkes) Ledger; Whitehead (Encore) Bingham (Maecenas) arr. Marchbank; arr. Blatchly (unpublished)

Recorded in St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, UK from 7th to 10th January 2016

Producer – Chris Hazell Recording Engineer – Simon Eadon Editor – Matthew Bennett Vocal Consultant – David Lowe Project Manager – Helen Cocks Design and Artwork – Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk

P 2016 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Signum Records Ltd © 2016 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd

Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd.

SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] © Benjamin Ealovega © Benjamin www.signumrecords.com

- 26 - - 27 - ALSO AVAILABLE

Jonathan Harvey: Deo Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge Andrew Nethsingha Director SIGCD456

H H H H H The Observer ‘ecstatic…the Choir tackles it all with confidence and clarity’

H H H H H Choir & Organ ‘characterful yet authoritative performances of which they can be justly proud’

H H H H The Financial Times ‘varied and inspiring…ambition has paid off handsomely’

H H H H H Planet Hugill ‘great intensity and remarkable power’

Gramophone Editor’s Choice ‘An essential disc’ ‘Outstanding on every count’ ‘Remarkable and under-performed repertoire, beautifully performed and recorded’

signumclassics Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000

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