Simon Preston 2 - Tenebrae Choir€¦ · And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day, And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day in

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1 I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In Simon Preston 2.05 Soloists: Emilia Morton soprano, Christopher Watson tenor

2 There Is No Rose Simon Preston 2.54

3 Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day John Gardner 2.31

4 Love Came Down at Christmas Richard Lloyd 2.32

5 Rejoice and Be Merry Christopher Robinson 1.55

6 The Birds Richard Hickox 1.55 Soloist: Grace Davidson soprano

7 Benedicamus Domino Peter Warlock 1.21

8 Adam lay ybounden Peter Warlock 1.20

9 I Saw a Fair Maiden Peter Warlock 3.47

10 Balulalow Peter Warlock 2.05 Soloist: Grace Davidson soprano

11 As Dew in Aprylle Peter Warlock 1.52

12 Adam lay ybounden Philip Ledger 2.01 Soloist: Nicholas Madden tenor

13 On Christmas Day Simon Preston 3.49 Soloist: Joanna Forbes L’Estrange soprano

14 On Christmas Night Philip Ledger 2.16

www.tenebrae-choir.com

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15 I Sing of a Maiden Arnold Bax 4.19

16 No Small Wonder Paul Edwards 2.42

17 There Is No Rose Jonathan Lane 2.39

18 Come Rock His Cradle Richard Knight 4.27 Soloist: Stephen Kennedy baritone

19 I Sing of a Maiden Alec Redshaw 2.10

20 Balulalow John Gardner 2.37 Soloist: Katie Trethewey soprano

21 Mary Walked Through a Wood of Thorn Philip Radcliffe 2.01 Soloists: Grace Davidson soprano, Christopher Watson tenor

22 A Gallery Carol John Gardner 2.13

Total Timing 55.35


the length and breadth of the country by either

providing beautiful music for choirs to sing

or by devoting themselves in some way to

choirs singing beautifully.

Singing this collection of Christmas music

was such a fun and rewarding experience and

together with my wonderful team of singers

who so positively embraced this project we

would like to thank Richard Baker who so

kindly supported this recording.

Nigel Short

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Introduction from Nigel Short

My love of Christmas music stems from my own

experience as a chorister, singing all the traditional

congregational carols, their descants, many new

arrangements of well-known tunes and of course

an ever increasing number of new compositions.

At a lunch with one of Tenebrae Patrons, Richard

Baker (himself a former chorister and choral

scholar at King’s College, Cambridge), a discussion

was taking place regarding repertoire for a future

Tenebrae recording. Rather rashly I said that having

already done two Christmas recordings, I wasn’t

entirely sold on the notion of doing another one,

but Richard began asking me if I knew this or that

carol: the list seemed endless. I knew the names

of many of the composers and arrangers he was

mentioning, but some only as choir masters or

organists, not as composers. Eventually we decided

there was more than enough wonderful repertoire

that would provide a musical breath of fresh air

come Christmas time and also give us a chance

to herald the extraordinary talents of some of the

most dedicated and less well-known individuals

from the world of English choral music in the 20th

century, thus ‘A Very English Christmas’ came to be.

Love is always at the heart of the Christmas message

and it became clear to all of us involved with this

recording that all of the composers represented

had/have a deep felt love for both their subject

matter and the beautiful, transporting sound of

a fine choir. After I had come to London to study

in 1983, I started to meet and work for a variety

of people, some of whose names when uttered in

the company of anyone who has been involved

with our glorious heritage of Cathedral and

Church music were met with an almost reverential

affection. One such was Simon Preston, for whom

I have an enduring admiration and was fortunate

enough to sing for in the choir of Westminster

Abbey when I was just 20 years old. His music

making was incredibly exhilarating and perhaps

a little terrifying too, maybe that was part of the

excitement! In more recent years we have sadly lost

John Gardner, Philip Ledger and Richard Hickox. I

had the pleasure of singing for Richard as a soloist

on several occasions and was always struck by

his convivial manner, whilst managing to make

everyone realise they had to give him everything.

Christopher Robinson was Director of Music at

the other great shining beacon of choral music in

Cambridge, St John’s College, and is another whose

name will for ever be associated with English choral

music at its very best. All the other names on the

disc have played their part too in inspiring choirs

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1. I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In Simon Preston

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?


And what was in those ships all three?


Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady,


Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady,


Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?


Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?


O, they sailed to Bethlehem,


O, they sailed to Bethlehem,


And all the bells on earth shall ring,


And all the bells on earth shall ring,


And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,


And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,


And all the souls on earth shall sing,


And all the souls on earth shall sing,


Then let us all rejoice amain,


Then let us all rejoice amain,


Words: Anonymous, c.17th century

2. There Is No Rose Simon Preston

17. There Is No Rose Jonathan Lane

There is no rose of such virtue

As is the rose that bare Jesu;

Alleluia.

For in this rose contained was

Heaven and earth in little space;

Res miranda.

By that rose we may well see

That he is God in persons three,

Pares forma.

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The angels sungen the shepherds to:

Gloria in excelsis deo:

Gaudeamus.

Leave we all this worldly mirth,

And follow we this joyful birth;

Transeamus.

Alleluia, res miranda,

Pares forma, gaudeamus,

Transeamus.

Words: Anonymous, c.1420

3. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day John Gardner

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day:

I would my true love did so chance

To see the legend of my play,

To call my true love to my dance:

Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love;

This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a virgin pure,

Of her I took fleshly substance;

Thus was I knit to man’s nature,


Sing O my love ...

In a manger laid and wrapped I was,

So very poor this was my chance,

Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass,


Sing O my love ...

Then afterwards baptized I was;

The Holy Ghost on me did glance,

My Father’s voice heard from above,

To call my true love to my dance.

Sing O my love ...

Words: Anonymous

4. Love Came Down at Christmas Richard Lloyd

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love divine,

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, love divine,

Worship we our Jesus,

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love shall be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Words: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

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A dove settled down upon Nazareth,

Tsucroo,

And tenderly chanted with all his breath,

Tsucroo:

‘To you,’ he cooed, ‘so good and true,

My beauty do I give to you

Tsucroo, Tsucroo, Tsucroo.’

Words: Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

7. Benedicamus Domino Peter Warlock

Procedenti puero

Eya, nobis annus est!

Virginis ex utero

Gloria! Laudes!

Deus homo factus est et immortalis.

Sine viri semine


Natus est de virgine

Gloria...

Sine viri copia


Natus est ex Maria

Gloria...

In hoc festo determino


Benedicamus Domino!

Gloria...

A boy comes forth,

Eya, this is our time,

From the womb of a virgin.

Glory! Praise!

God is made man and immortal.

Without the seed of a man


He is born of a virgin.

Glory! ...

Without the means of a man,


He is born of Mary

Glory! ...

On this appointed feast,


Let us bless the Lord.

Glory! ...

Words: Latin Mass

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5. Rejoice and Be Merry Christopher Robinson

22. A Gallery Carol John Gardner

Rejoice and be merry

In songs and in mirth!

O praise our Redeemer;

All mortals on earth!

For this is the birthday

Of Jesus our King,

Who brought us salvation,

His praises we’ll sing!

A heavenly vision

Appeared in the sky;

Vast numbers of angels

The shepherds did spy,

Proclaiming the birthday

Of Jesus our King,



Likewise a bright star

In the sky did appear,

Which led the wise men

From the East to draw near;

They found the Messiah,

Sweet Jesus our King,



And when they were come,

they their treasures unfold,

And unto him offered

Myrrh, incense and gold.

So blessed for ever

Be Jesus our King,



Words: Anonymous

6. The Birds Richard Hickox

From out of a wood did a cuckoo fly,

Cuckoo,

He came to a manger with joyful cry,

Cuckoo;

He hopped, he curtsied, round he flew,

And loud his jubilation grew,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo.

A pigeon flew over to Galilee,

Vrercroo,

He strutted, and cooed, and was full of glee,

Vrercroo,

And showed with jewelled wings unfurled,

His joy that Christ was in the world,

Vrercroo, Vrercroo, Vrercroo.

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10. As Dew in Aprylle Peter Warlock

I syng of a mayden

That is makeles,

King of alle kynges

To here sone che ches.

He cam al so stylle

Ther his moder was,

As dew in Aprylle

That fallyt on the gras.

He cam al so stylle

To his moderes bowr

As dew in Aprille

That fallyt on the flour.

He cam al so stylle

Ther his moder lay

As dew in Aprille

That fallyt on the spray.

Moder and maydyn

Was never non but che;

Wel may swych a lady

Godes moder be.

Words: Anonymous, Sloane Manuscript, c.1450

11. Balulalow Peter Warlock

20. Balulalow John Gardner

O my dear hert, young Jesus sweet,

Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,

And I sall rock thee in my hert

And never mair from thee depert.

But I sall praise thee evermore

With sangis sweet unto thy glor:

The knees of my hert sall I bow,

And sing that richt Balulalow.

Words: Attrib. James, John & Robert Wedderburn, c.1567

13. On Christmas Day Simon Preston

Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;

Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;

Now beginning, and alway:

Now begin, on Christmas day.

Moonless darkness stands between.

Past, the Past, no more be seen!

But the Bethlehem-star may lead me

To the sight of Him Who freed me

From the self that I have been.

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8. Adam lay ybounden Peter Warlock

12. Adam lay ybounden Philip Ledger

Adam lay ybounden,

Bounden in a bond;

Four thousand winter,

Thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple,

An apple that he took.

As clerkes finden,

Written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been,

The apple taken been,

Ne had never our ladie,

Abeen heav’ne queen.

Blessed be the time

That apple taken was,

Therefore we moun singen.

Deo gratias!

Words: Anonymous, 15th Century

9. I Saw a Fair Maiden Peter Warlock

I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing,

She lulled a little child, a sweetë lording.

Lullay, mine liking, my dear son, mine sweeting,

Lullay, my dear heart, mine own dear darling.

That same lord is He that made allë thing,

Of allë lordis He is lord, of allë kingës king.

Lullay, mine liking ...

There was mickle melody at that child’ës birth,

All that were in Heaven’s bliss they made mickle

mirth.


Angelys bright they sung that night and saiden to

that child:

‘Blessed be thou and so be she that is both meek

and mild.’


Pray we now to that Child, and to His mother dear,

Grant them His blessing that now maken cheer,


Words: Anonymous, 15th Century

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Mother and maiden

Was never none but she;

Well may such a lady

Godës mother be.

Words: Anonymous, Sloane Manuscript, c.1450

16. No Small Wonder Paul Edwards

Small wonder the star.

small wonder the light,

the angels in chorus,

the shepherds in fright;

but stable and manger for God -

no small wonder!

Small wonder the kings,

small wonder they bore

the gold and the incense,

the myrrh to adore;

but God gives his life on a cross -

no small wonder!

Small wonder the love,

small wonder the grace,

the power, the glory,

the light of his face;

but all to redeem my poor heart –

no small wonder!

Words: Paul Wigmore (1925-2014)

18. Come Rock His Cradle Richard Knight

Come, rock His cradle lowly,

The throne of God all-holy;

Come worship and adore Him,

And kneel we down before Him.

Sweet little Jesu, Sweet little Jesu.

And sing, for music-number

Will lull the Babe to slumber:

Your strain be sweet and airy,

Like that of blessed Mary.


Do nothing to annoy Him,

But everything to joy Him;

For sin, by night or morrow,

Would cause Him pain and sorrow.


So at your hour of dying,

This Babe, in cradle lying,

For He is King supernal

Shall give you rest eternal.


Words: Rev. George Ratcliffe Woodward (1843-1934)

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Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;

Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;

Now beginning, and alway:

Now begin, on Christmas day.

Words: Gerard Manley Hopkins (1884-1889)

14. On Christmas Night Philip Ledger

On Christmas night all Christians sing,

To hear the news the angels bring;

On Christmas night all Christians sing,

To hear the news the angels bring:

News of great joy, news of great mirth,

News of our merciful king’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,

Since our Redeemer made us glad:

Then why should men on earth be so sad,

Since our Redeemer made us glad:

When from our sin He set us free,

All for to gain our liberty.

When sin departs before his grace,

Then life and health come in its place;

When sin departs before his grace,

Then life and health come in its place;

Angels and men with joy may sing,

All for to see the newborn king.

All out of darkness we have light

Which made the angels sing this night;

All out of darkness we have light

Which made the angels sing this night:

Glory to God and peace to men,

Now and forevermore. Amen.

Words: Anonymous

15. I Sing of a Maiden Arnold Bax

19. I Sing of a Maiden Alec Redshaw

I sing of a maiden

That is makeless;

King of all kings

To her son she ches.

He came all so still

There his mother was,

As dew in April

That falleth on the grass.


To his mother’s bower,

As dew in April

That falleth on the flower.


There his mother lay,

As dew in April

That falleth on the spray.

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21. Mary Walked Through a Wood of Thorn

Philip Radcliffe

Mary walked through a wood of thorn

Kyrie eleison.

Mary walked through a wood of thorn,

Which seven long years no leaf had borne;

Jesus and Mary.

What bare Mary beneath her heart?

Kyrie eleison.

A little child without any smart

Mary bare beneath her heart,

Jesus and Mary.

Then roses sprang from out the thorn;

Kyrie eleison.

As the Christ child through the wood was born,

Roses sprang from out the thorn;

Jesus and Mary.

Words: Anonymous, Old German translated by E. Herborn

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TENEBRAE

Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and

“devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine),

award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction

of Nigel Short, is one of the world’s finest vocal

ensembles renowned for its passion and precision.

As the first-ever ensemble to be multi-nominated

in the same category for the BBC Music Magazine

Awards (2012), Tenebrae’s recording of Victoria’s

Requiem Mass, 1605 secured the accolade for

Best Choral Performance. The choir’s recording

of Fauré’s Requiem with the London Symphony

Orchestra was nominated for the Gramophone

Awards (2013), having been described as “the very

best Fauré Requiem on disc”, so too was Mother and

Child (2003) for Choral Disc of the Year featuring

sacred music by living British composers. Tenebrae’s

ever-increasing discography has brought about

collaborations with Signum, Decca, Deutsche

Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live and Warner

Classics, with the choir’s recent recording of Russian

Orthodox music being launched on its own label,

Bene Arte, receiving glowing reviews and reaching

number 1 on the UK Classical Chart.

Tenebrae is dedicated to supporting contemporary

composers having worked with Judith Bingham,

Alexander Levine, Paul Mealor, Joby Talbot, Hilary

Tann, John Tavener and Will Todd, in addition to

upcoming releases with Ola Gjeilo and Alexander

L’Estrange. Furthermore, the choir is renowned for its

highly-acclaimed interpretations of the choral canon

with repertoire ranging from the hauntingly

passionate works of Gesualdo and Victoria to the

beautiful choral masterpieces of Poulenc and Tavener.

Alongside A Very English Christmas, 2015 also sees

Tenebrae release a disc of Brahms and Bruckner

motets in benefit of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tenebrae has performed at some of the world’s most

renowned festivals including the BBC Proms, City

of London Festival, Edinburgh International Festival

(UK) and Montreux Choral Festival (Switzerland).

In 2015 the choir will perform across the UK in

Guildford, Hexham, Lammermuir, London,

Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Sherborne, Stour and

Thaxted, as well as engagements throughout Europe

and a USA tour in the autumn.

‘Passion and Precision’ is Tenebrae’s motto, and

through its continued dedication to performance

of the highest quality, audiences around the

world experience the power and intimacy of the

human voice.

16 17

NIGEL SHORT

Award-winning conductor Nigel Short has built

up an enviable reputation for his recording and

live performance work with leading orchestras and

ensembles across the world.

A singer of great acclaim, Nigel was a member of

the world-renowned vocal ensemble The King’s

Singers from 1994–2000. Upon leaving the group,

he formed Tenebrae, a virtuosic choir that embraced

his dedication to passion and precision. Tenebrae

is the first-ever ensemble to be multi-nominated

in the same category for the BBC Music Magazine

Awards (2012), securing the accolade of Best Choral

Performance for the choir’s recording of Victoria’s

Requiem Mass, 1605. Under his direction, Tenebrae

has enjoyed collaborations with orchestras and

instrumentalists of various musical genres and

now enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s

finest choral ensembles.

To date, Nigel has conducted the Aurora Orchestra,

Chamber Orchestra of Europe, English Chamber

Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal

Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble and,

for Baroque repertoire, The English Concert. He

has directed the London Symphony Orchestra

with Tenebrae in a live recording of Fauré’s Requiem,

which was nominated for the Gramophone

Awards (2013) having been described as

“devastatingly beautiful... the very best Fauré

Requiem on disc”. Since then, he has conducted

the orchestra alongside Tenebrae for a sold-out

performance in St. Paul’s Cathedral as part of the

City of London Festival (UK). Other orchestral

recordings include Mozart’s Requiem and Ave

Verum Corpus with the Chamber Orchestra of

Europe and two discs of music by Will Todd

with the English Chamber Orchestra.

Nigel has conducted recordings for many of

the world’s major record labels including Decca

Records, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics,

LSO Live, Signum and Warner Classics.

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James Sherlock, Organ - Performs on tracks 1, 3, 6, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22

A – Performs on all works except for tracks 4, 12, 17, 19, 21

B – Performs on tracks 4, 5, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21

C - Performs on tracks 1, 3, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22

D - Performs on tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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Recorded at the Church of St Augustine, Kilburn on 21-22 January 2015

Producer: Nicholas Parker

Balance Engineer: Andrew Mellor

Assisted by: George Pierson

Edited and Mastered: Andrew Mellor

Special thanks to those who have contributed to the creation of this recording:

Richard Baker

Design and Artwork: Woven Design

www.wovendesign.co.uk

Photography: Chris O’Donovan

www.chrisodonovan.com

© 2015 Tenebrae Records Ltd.

P 2015 Tenebrae Records Ltd.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Nigel Short

SOPRANO

Grace Davidson

Joanna Forbes L’Estrange

Emilia Morton A

Katie Trethewey

ALTO

Hannah Cooke A

Martha McLorinan

Eleanor Minney

TENOR

Benjamin Alden A

Nicholas Madden

Christopher Watson

BASS

Geoff Clapham A

James Holliday B

Greg Skidmore C

Simon Whiteley D

Stephen Kennedy

Richard Savage A

Russian TreasuresBene Arte SIGCD900 (2014)

“Tenebrae is current master of the Russian Sound” Classic FM

Medieval Chant, Tallis LamentationsBene Arte SIGCD901

“... the performance of Tallis’s Lamentations is

majestically dark and intense, displaying this group’s

famous sensitivity toward musical structure, as well as

their exquisite harmonic control”

BBC Music Magazine


Tenebrae Nigel Short

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Catalogue No.SIGCD902

Job Title: A Very English Christmas

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A Very English Christmas



Made in the EU / SIGCD902


1 I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In Simon Preston 2.05

2 There Is No Rose Simon Preston 2.54

3 Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day John Gardner 2.31

4 Love Came Down at Christmas Richard Lloyd 2.32

5 Rejoice and Be Merry Christopher Robinson 1.55

6 The Birds Richard Hickox 1.55

7 Benedicamus Domino Peter Warlock 1.21

8 Adam lay ybounden Peter Warlock 1.20

9 I Saw a Fair Maiden Peter Warlock 3.47

10 Balulalow Peter Warlock 2.05

11 As Dew in Aprylle Peter Warlock 1.52

12 Adam lay ybounden Philip Ledger 2.01

13 On Christmas Day Simon Preston 3.49

14 On Christmas Night Philip Ledger 2.16

15 I Sing of a Maiden Arnold Bax 4.19

16 No Small Wonder Paul Edwards 2.42

17 There Is No Rose Jonathan Lane 2.39

18 Come Rock His Cradle Richard Knight 4.27

19 I Sing of a Maiden Alec Redshaw 2.10

20 Balulalow John Gardner 2.37

21 Mary Walked Through a Wood of Thorn Philip Radcliffe 2.01

22 A Gallery Carol John Gardner 2.13

Total Timing 55.35

CTP Template: CD_INL4Compact Disc Inside Inlay (clearcase)

Customer: Tenebrae

Catalogue No.SIGCD902

Job Title: English Christmas

COLOURSCYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK



Made in the EU

SIGCD902


Documents

Simon Preston 2 - Tenebrae Choir€¦ · And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day, And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day in