God is with us 'A Christmas proclamation' (Tavener) - from CDA66464 - Hyperion Records

Our Lady with the Infant Jesus riding on a Lamb, with St John by William Blake (1757-1827)
Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Crown Copyright

Track(s) taken from CDA66464

EnglishFrançaisDeutsch

Very different in character are the Christmas pieces Today the Virgin (1989) and God is with us. The latter is described as a ‘Christmas proclamation’, and was completed in 1987 for Martin Neary and the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. The text is adapted from the Orthodox service of Great Compline, which is sung on Christmas Eve; its basis is biblical. Beginning in tranquillity, the piece is in fact a radiant and joyful celebration. Much use is made of a solo tenor who sings a haunting melody, Byzantine in inspiration, while the choir sings cascades of notes around him. The shock comes in the final section with the introduction of the organ at the words ‘Christ is born!’, when the music is disconcertingly freed from harmonic weight.

Digital booklet (PDF)

Recording details: July 1990
All Hallows, Gospel Oak, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Chris Sayers
Engineered by Antony Howell
Release date: April 1991
Total duration: 5 minutes 26 seconds

God is with us 'A Christmas proclamation'

composer

Sir John Tavener (1944-2013)

1987

author of text

Anonymous - liturgical

from the Orthodox Great Compline for Christmas Eve

St George's Chapel Choir Windsor, Christopher Robinson (conductor), James Oxley (tenor), Roger Judd (organ)