Promise of Ages: Christmas Collection

Track Listings

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

2. Nos Galan (Deck the Halls)

3. Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child

4. Ther Is No Rose of Swych Vertu

5. I Sing of a Maiden

6. There Is No Rose from "A Ceremony of Carols"

7. O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)

8. Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 1-3: "Qui Creavit Celum"

9. Fader of Heven (Ca. 1450 Mystery Play)

10. Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 4-6: Lactat Mater Domini

11. O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)

12. Lullay, Lullow: I Saw a Swete Semly Syght

13. I Wonder as I Wander

14. Staines Morris (Blessed Be That Maid Marie)

15. Hayl, Mary, Ful of Grace

16. Seven Joys of Mary

17. Illuminare, Jerusalem

18. Good People All, This Christmastide

19. Sing We the Virgin Mary

20. In Bethlehem City

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
No one has recorded more innovative Christmas anthologies than Andrew Parrott--and this disc is no exception. The Promise of Ages presents a collection of wonderful seasonal music arranged for women's voices (all arrangements were either made or sanctioned by the composers). The selection includes 15th-century English works such as "There is no rose of swych vertu"; traditional tunes both genuine ("Deck the Halls" in an 18th-century Welsh arrangement for harp) and fake (J. J. Niles's "I Wonder as I Wander" and "Lullay, thou little tiny child"); rollicking Irish dance tunes; and 20th-century works by such composers as Britten, Holst, and Judith Weir on traditional Christmas texts. One ingenious and effective suite combines Peter Maxwell Davies's "O magnum mysterium" and "The Fader of Heven" with the 14th-century "Song of the Nuns of Chester." All of the performances are exemplary, but Emily van Evera deserves special praise for her beautifully simple rendition of the Niles tunes. This collection can stand alongside Parrott's The Carol Album as the thinking person's Christmas albums. --Matthew Westphal

Tracks:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Nos Galan (Deck the Halls)
Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child
Ther Is No Rose of Swych Vertu
I Sing of a Maiden
There Is No Rose from "A Ceremony of Carols"
O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)
Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 1-3: "Qui Creavit Celum"
Fader of Heven (Ca. 1450 Mystery Play)
Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 4-6: Lactat Mater Domini
O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)
Lullay, Lullow: I Saw a Swete Semly Syght
I Wonder as I Wander
Staines Morris (Blessed Be That Maid Marie)
Hayl, Mary, Ful of Grace
Seven Joys of Mary
Illuminare, Jerusalem
Good People All
Sing We the Virgin Mary
In Bethlehem City
Christmas Eve
Hodie Christus Natus Est (Antiphon from Chester Processional)
Jesu, Thou the Virgin-Born
As Dew in Aprille from " a Ceremony of Carols"
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

Amazon.com

No one has recorded more innovative Christmas anthologies than Andrew Parrott--and this disc is no exception. The Promise of Ages presents a collection of wonderful seasonal music arranged for women's voices (all arrangements were either made or sanctioned by the composers). The selection includes 15th-century English works such as "There is no rose of swych vertu"; traditional tunes both genuine ("Deck the Halls" in an 18th-century Welsh arrangement for harp) and fake (J. J. Niles's "I Wonder as I Wander" and "Lullay, thou little tiny child"); rollicking Irish dance tunes; and 20th-century works by such composers as Britten, Holst, and Judith Weir on traditional Christmas texts. One ingenious and effective suite combines Peter Maxwell Davies's "O magnum mysterium" and "The Fader of Heven" with the 14th-century "Song of the Nuns of Chester." All of the performances are exemplary, but Emily van Evera deserves special praise for her beautifully simple rendition of the Niles tunes. This collection can stand alongside Parrott's The Carol Album as the thinking person's Christmas albums. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Superb Choral Christmas Music.......2007-01-20

Andrew Parrott, and the Taverner Concert and Choir have done it again !

This is a superb collection of traditional music from the past, some of it familiar, some not so well known, all performed so very well.

Unique and special.......2007-01-09

Loved this album the entire thing. An English flavour.
Especially loved the Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending..
heart stirring. A great way to get into the Christmas
spirit and lift your heart.

Beautiful Harmonies and Vocalizations.......2000-12-13

Like another reviewer, I am thrilled at Lo! He Comes, as well as with the unfamiliar setting for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the beautiful Sing We the Virgin Mary.

If you love beautiful vocalizations, especially rare soprano-alto harmonizations, this is the album for you.

A "top ten" Christmas album.......2000-11-13

If this album contained nothing but it's splendid rendition of Madan's Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending, the album would be worth owning. Fortunately, the entire album is a brillant mix of voices, instrumentals and performance styles; the resulting album can be played several times in successiion without becoming repetative - no small feat for a Christmas album.

The album ranges from the 13th century Nuns of Chester to contemporary composers - Judith Weir - or nearly comtemporary - Britten, Holst ... with excellent sequencing so that no piece seems out of place.

The instrumentation varies from the traditional organ with SATB choir to fiddle, flute, concertina and cello. This provides the variety that makes the album so listenable.

For traditional Christmas music this album is a must.

A "top ten" Christmas album.......2000-11-13

The instrumentation varies from the traditional organ with SATB choir to fiddle, flute, concertina and cello. This provides the variety that makes the album so listenable.

For traditional Christmas music this album is a must.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

It's Bad for You But Buy It

Marie Barker Nelson: A Night at the Symphony

Last of the Big Spenders

Khmer

Untitled [Import]

Maurice White [Import]

Reflections [Import]

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Mattia Battistini

Pioneering Women of Bluegrass

Live at the Village Vanguard

Ocean Songs

Open All Night [Import]

Ministry of Sound: The Annual 2004 [Import]

No Place So Far

Fabulous Slide Hampton Quartet

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. Nos Galan (Deck the Halls)
3. Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child
4. Ther Is No Rose of Swych Vertu
5. I Sing of a Maiden
6. There Is No Rose from "A Ceremony of Carols"
7. O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)
8. Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 1-3: "Qui Creavit Celum"
9. Fader of Heven (Ca. 1450 Mystery Play)
10. Song of the Nuns of Chester, Verses 4-6: Lactat Mater Domini
11. O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day)
12. Lullay, Lullow: I Saw a Swete Semly Syght
13. I Wonder as I Wander
14. Staines Morris (Blessed Be That Maid Marie)
15. Hayl, Mary, Ful of Grace
16. Seven Joys of Mary
17. Illuminare, Jerusalem
18. Good People All, This Christmastide
19. Sing We the Virgin Mary
20. In Bethlehem City