Britten - Christ's Nativity / Gritton, Wyn-Rogers, Holst Singer, Layton

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
How does a 19-year-old conceive a work so complex yet so accessible, so original yet so involved as A Boy Was Born? This theme and six variations for mixed voices and boys' choir, with texts primarily from 15th- and 16th- century sources, is one of the great choral masterpieces, and one of the most challenging for singers. Within its marvelous textures, harmonies, and rhythms are the seeds of many of Britten's later works--but, remarkably, the piece also stands on its own as a fully finished and mature work. The truth of its genius is most apparent in Variation 5, a setting of the Christina Rossetti poem "In the bleak mid-winter" for women's voices combined with a tender, soaring melody ("Corpus Christi Carol") and separate text sung by boys. This is one of those rare moments in music that leaves you silent and in awe--made even more effective by these exceptionally accomplished performers, whose expression and choice of tempo is absolutely right. --David Vernier

Tracks:

A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Theme: A Boy Was Born
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var l: Lullay, Jesu
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var ll: Herod
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var lll: Jesu, As Thou Art Our Saviour - Connor Burrowes
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var lV: The Three Kings
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var V: In The Bleak Mid-Winter
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Var Vl (Finale): Noel!
A Hymn To The Virgin - Ruth Morris/Hatty Webb/William Lee/Christopher Head
Christ's Nativity: Christ's Nativity
Christ's Nativity: Sweet Was The Song - Catherine Wyn-Rogers
Christ's Nativity: Preparations
Christ's Nativity: New Prince, New Pomp - Susan Gritton
Christ's Nativity: Carol Of King Cnut
A Shepherd's Carol - Jeremy Davies/William Lee/Lis Cook/ Lucy Bailey
Jubilate In C
Te Deum In C - Louisa Keily

Amazon.com

How does a 19-year-old conceive a work so complex yet so accessible, so original yet so involved as A Boy Was Born? This theme and six variations for mixed voices and boys' choir, with texts primarily from 15th- and 16th- century sources, is one of the great choral masterpieces, and one of the most challenging for singers. Within its marvelous textures, harmonies, and rhythms are the seeds of many of Britten's later works--but, remarkably, the piece also stands on its own as a fully finished and mature work. The truth of its genius is most apparent in Variation 5, a setting of the Christina Rossetti poem "In the bleak mid-winter" for women's voices combined with a tender, soaring melody ("Corpus Christi Carol") and separate text sung by boys. This is one of those rare moments in music that leaves you silent and in awe--made even more effective by these exceptionally accomplished performers, whose expression and choice of tempo is absolutely right. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-11-28

This present disc brings together a selection of Britten's choral music for Christmastide, a season he much enjoyed, to the end of his life. The earliest is 'A Hymn to the Virgin' composed on July 9, 1930,and was first performed at St. John's Church on January 5, 1931, at which time his Mother sang the alto part in the solo quartet. The anonymous 14th century text in praise of the Virgin Mary is set for two contrasted groups of voices, one large, the other small.
'Christ's Nativity' is a fascinating choral work from Britten's student days, and is here receiving its first recording. There are 5 settings, all of which were written at different times starting with January, 1931. They are: 'Christ's Nativity'-'Sweet was the Song'-'Preparations'-New Prince,New Pomp'-'Carol of King Cnut'. Eventually, Britten reordered them into a "Christmas Suite". It's first complete performance waas given as part of the 1991 Adelburgh Festival by the Britten Singers.
"A Boy was Born", for mixed voices and boys' choir, is written in the form of an instrumental theme and variatons. There are five variations in sequence on a theme heard at the outset. They are:(1) A Boy Was Born (2) Variation 1 'Lullay,Jesu' derived form the theme in the form of a 'lullay' ostinato thruout (3) Variation 2 'Herod" is a scherzo that includes superimposed (Bartokian) 4ths. (4) Variation 3 'Jesu, As Thou Art Our Saviour' juxtaposes choral homophony with lovely pentatonic melismas from the Boys Choir (5) Variation 4 'The Three Kings' consists of a processional coming out of the distance, passing by, and disappearing (6) Variation 5 'In the Bleak Midwinter' the folk-song melody of the 'Corpus Christi Carol (boys choir) is heard against a background of women's voices. (7) the 'Finale-Noel' comprises an elaborate and very exciting rondo structure in which additional carols are incorporated in episodes.
The first performance of 'A Boy is Born' was given Feb.23, 1934.
Britten set a poem by Auden ( a friend of his) 'A Shepherd' s Carol' in March of 1942. Auden suggested that the accompanying music should be either Jazz or folk-song, and Britten complied; thus the easy laid-back nature of the setting, redolent of American "pop" music
The recording is completed by a pair of compositions unrelated to Christmas, but fine examples of Britten's liturgical music.
What a wonderful collection of music, and performed superbly by all participants. The genius of Britten is displayed herein for all to marvel and enjoy.!!!!

"A Boy Was Born" is pure genius!.......2004-11-25

I can't agree more with David Vernier's review above. "A Boy was Born" is one of my favorite choral works in existence. This recording is the best of the three that I've heard (the others being The Sixteen/Collins and Corydon Singers/Hyperion).

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits of Scott Joplin

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The Best of Stephanie Mills

The Soul of Ben Webster

Plays Baroque Oboe Concertos

Tales from Topographic Oceans [Original recording remastered] [Import]

The Call of The Beloved: Tomas Luis de Victoria

The Brasil Project, Vol. 2

Romance en Trio

Rosita de Oliva

Dixon Brothers, Vol. 3: 1937-1938

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