Continuing its practice of programming a variety of Christmas favorites with fresh interpretations of beloved holiday texts, the St. John's College Choir, Cambridge turns its focus to Adventide for this 2018 Signum Classics release. Providing the customary mix of polyphonic motets, traditional folk songs, and modern and contemporary carols, the men and boys of the choir, under the direction of Andrew Nethsingha, present much that is innovative and stimulating, so any concerns about predictability can be dismissed outright. ...
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Continuing its practice of programming a variety of Christmas favorites with fresh interpretations of beloved holiday texts, the St. John's College Choir, Cambridge turns its focus to Adventide for this 2018 Signum Classics release. Providing the customary mix of polyphonic motets, traditional folk songs, and modern and contemporary carols, the men and boys of the choir, under the direction of Andrew Nethsingha, present much that is innovative and stimulating, so any concerns about predictability can be dismissed outright. Certain tracks are standouts, such as James Burton's infectiously rhythmic Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, James Long's arresting setting of Vigilate, Tim Watts' colorful instrumentation in The birth of speech, and the jubilant Noe, Noe of David Bednall, all reflecting lively developments in contemporary choral music by composers born since the mid-20th century. Yet traditionalists can find solace in the Renaissance counterpoint of Fuit homo missus a Deo of Giovanni Pierluigi da...
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