THE CHOIR OF CLARE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

George Gillow & Samuel Jones, organ

Graham Ross, conductor

CHRISTMAS FROM CLARE

FILMED IN CLARE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE DECEMBER 2020

Christmas from Clare

The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge

Graham Ross, conductor

Ding! Dong! Merrily on High Traditional arr. Stuart Nicholson (b. 1975) Samuel Jones | organ

Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen Michael Praetorius (c. 1571–1611) The Royal Carol Roderick Williams (b. 1965)

Samuel Porteous & Dominic Wallis | tenor

The Holly and the Ivy Benjamin Britten (1913–76)

Scarlet O’Shea & Hannah Dienes-Williams | sopranos; Rosina Griffiths & Caitlin Obee | mezzo-sopranos;

Samuel Porteous & William Harris | tenor; Arthur Goggin | bass

O come, O come, Emmanuel! Traditional arr. Graham Ross (b. 1985)

George Gillow | organ

Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium) Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978)

William Harris | cello

Away in a manger William Kirkpatrick (1838–1921) arr. Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015) In the bleak midwinter Gustav Holst (1874–1934) arr. Graham Ross

Graham Ross | piano In the stillness Sally Beamish (b. 1956) O come, all ye faithful John Francis Wade (c. 1711–86) arr. Sir David Willcocks

George Gillow | organ Jingle bells James Lord Pierpont (1822–93) arr. Ben Parry (b. 1965) We wish you a merry Christmas Traditional arr. Arthur Warrell (1883–1939)

Texts and translations

Ding! Dong! Merrily on high (GEORGE RATCLIFFE WOODWARD (1848–1934)) Ding! Dong! merrily on high, In heav’n the bells are ringing: Ding! dong! verily the sky Is riv’n with angel singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E’en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And “Io, io, io!” By priest and people sungen. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (ANONYMOUS (16TH CENTURY), trans. CATHERINE WINKWORTH (1827–78))

Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen aus einer Wurzel zart, wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse kam die Art und hat ein BIümlein bracht mitten im kalten Winter, wohl zu der halben Nacht. Das Röslein, das ich meine, davon Jesaias sagt, hat uns gebracht alleine Marie, die reine Magd. Aus Gottes ewgem Rat hat sie ein Kind geboren, wohl zu der halben Nacht.

A spotless rose is blowing, sprung from a tender root, of ancient seers’ foreshowing, of Jesse promised fruit; its fairest bud unfolds to light amid the cold, cold winter, and in the dark midnight. The rose which I am singing, whereof Isaiah said, is from its sweet root springing in Mary, purest maid; for through our God’s great love and might the blessed babe she bare us, in a cold, cold winter’s night.

The Royal Carol (HENRY VIII (1491–1547)) Green groweth the holly, So doth the ivy. Though winter blasts blow never so high, Green groweth the holly. As the holly groweth green And never changeth hue, So I am, and ever have been, Unto my lady true. As the holly groweth green, With ivy all alone, When flowers cannot be seen And green-wood leaves be gone, Now unto my lady Promise to her I make, From all other only to her I me betake. Green groweth the holly, So doth the ivy. Though winter blasts blow never so high, Green groweth the holly.

The Holly and the Ivy (TRADITIONAL) The Holly and the Ivy are trees that’s both well known; Of all trees that grows in woods, the holly bears the crown. The rising of the sun, the running of the deer, The playing of the merry harp, sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a blossom as white as any flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Saviour The rising of the sun… The holly bears a colour as green as any tree, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to set poor sinners free. The rising of the sun… The holly bears a berry as red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good The rising of the sun… The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ at Christmas day in the morn. The rising of the sun… The holly bears a bark as bitter as the gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all. The rising of the sun…

O come, O come, Emmanuel! (COLOGNE 1710, based on the ancient Advent Antiphons, trans., THOMAS ALEXANDER LACEY (1853–1931)) O come, O come, Emmanuel! Redeem thy captive Israel, That into exile drear is gone Far from the face of God’s dear Son. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Wisdom from on high! Who madest all in earth and sky, Creating man from dust and clay: To us reveal salvation’s way. Rejoice! … O come, O come, Adonaï, Who in thy glorious majesty From Sinai’s mountain, clothed with awe, Gavest thy folk the ancient law. Rejoice! … O come, thou Root of Jesse! draw The quarry from the lion’s claw; From those dread caverns of the grave, From nether hell, thy people save. Rejoice! … O come, thou Lord of David’s Key! The royal door fling wide and free; Safeguard for us the heavenward road, And bar the way to death’s abode. Rejoice! … O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright! Pour on our souls thy healing light; Dispel the long night’s lingering gloom, And pierce the shadows of the tomb. Rejoice! … O Come, Desire of nations! show Thy kingly reign on earth below; Thou Corner-stone, uniting all, Restore the ruin of our fall. Rejoice! … Serenity (O magnum mysterium) (MATIN RESPONSORY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY) O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum iacentem in praesepio. Beata virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.

How great a mystery, and how wonderful the sacrament, that the animals should behold the Lord newly born and lying in a stable. Blessed be the virgin whose womb was worthy to bear our Lord Christ.

Away in a manger (ANONYMOUS) Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my side until morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. In the stillness (KATRINA SHEPHERD (b. 1954)) In the stillness of a church where candles glow, – In the softness of a fall of fresh white snow, In the brightness of the stars that shine this night, In the calmness of a pool of healing light, In the clearness of a choir that softly sings, In the oneness of a hush of angels’ wings, In the mildness of a night by stable bare, In the quietness of a lull near cradle fair, There’s a patience as we wait for a new morn, And the presence of a child soon to be born.

In the bleak midwinter (CHRISTINA ROSSETTI (1830–94)) In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone: Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for him, whom Cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk, And a mangerful of hay: Enough for him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and Seraphim Thronged the air But only his mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can I give him Give my heart.

O come, all ye faithful (FREDERICK OAKLEY (1802–80)) O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, Born the King of angels: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. God of God, Light from Light, Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: O come . . . Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; ‘Glory to God, In the highest.’ O come . . . Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come . . . Jingle Bells (JAMES LORD PIERPONT (1822–93)) Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh. Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh, O’er the fields we go, Laughing all the way; Bells on bob tails ring, Making spirits bright, What fun it is to laugh and sing This sleighing song tonight!

We wish you a merry Christmas (TRADITIONAL) We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Now bring us some figgy pudding Now bring us some figgy pudding Now bring us some figgy pudding Now bring some out here. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! For we all like our figgy pudding For we all like our figgy pudding For we all like our figgy pudding With all this good cheer. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year And we won’t go until we get some And we won’t go until we get some And we won’t go until we get some So bring some out here. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Graham Ross, conductor

Sopranos Hannah Ambrose Emily Coatsworth

Abby Cox Hannah Dienes-Williams

Ella Fraser Julia Morris

Scarlet O’Shea Daphne Pleming

Holly Sewell Emma Williams

Altos Emily Beringer Rosina Griffiths

Isabella Guillaume Freddie Lindsay-Coombs

Theo Normanton Caitlin Obee

Tenors William Harris

Victoria Longstaff Samuel Porteous Dominic Wallis

Basses Alexander Carter

Ashley Chow Conor Farrell-Foster

Arthur Goggin Robert Jones Julius Kiln

Oscar Simms Harry Swanson

Senior Organ Scholar George Gillow

Junior Organ Scholar Samuel Jones

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