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Track(s) taken from CDA68087

The oxen

First line:
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock
composer
Jonathan Rathbone (b1957)
author of text
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Stephen Layton (conductor)
Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
Recording details: January 2014
Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Produced by Adrian Peacock
Engineered by David Hinitt
Release date: November 2015
Total duration: 3 minutes 3 seconds

Cover artwork: Snowy Peace (2011). Lisa Graa Jensen
Private Collection / Bridgeman Images
 

Other recordings available for download

The Gesualdo Six, Owain Park (director)
Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor)

Reviews

‘Conductor Stephen Layton has taken its choir to new levels of achievement’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More
PERFORMANCE
RECORDING

‘This is a splendid and varied disc of Christmas music. The performances by the Choir of Trinity College are superb from start to finish. Not only is the singing immaculate at all times but in the more extrovert numbers the choir demonstrates a palpable sense of enjoyment. No fewer than ten members of the choir feature as soloists, often on more than one occasion. Without exception they deliver their solos marvellously’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘A magnificent Christmas offering, a real gift from Hyperion to the Festive Season. Difficult to imagine this one being topped’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Simply take residence in your favourite armchair and let the vocals soothe your soul’ (Elite)» More

«Le Chœur du Trinity College de Cambridge est l'un de ces ensembles d'étudiants si versatile qu'il parvient à donner de la consistance aux pages les plus secondaires: ainsi de cette guirlande de noëls clinquante tendue entre les deux rives de l'Atlantique» (Diapason, France)» More

'Ugens Album er helt klart en af årets lækreste juleplader: Koret fra Trinity College i Cambridge synger engelske og europæiske julesange, så sneen må smelte' (DR P2 Klassisk, Denmark)» More
Jonathan Rathbone’s The oxen is an original carol. The words are Thomas Hardy’s, set by the still fireside on the turn of Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. This carol highlights the more profound aspect of the season, where hope is rekindled by the birth of Jesus. Not that this hope is always obvious. Rathbone uses a rich harmonic language reminiscent of Peter Warlock to tease out Hardy’s questions and uncertainties, and to reveal beneath them a small but real hope. This carol lies on the brink of expectation, listening to the Christmas story, ‘hoping it might be so’; the question of that phrase hangs in the air, but The oxen quietly ventures an affirmative answer. It finds again, amid the darkness of Hardy’s scene and of its own harmonic setting, a glimmer of expectation.

from notes by Ted Tregear © 2015

Other albums featuring this work

Christmas
The Gesualdo Six, Owain Park (director)
Studio Master: CDA68299Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
What sweeter music
Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor)
SIGCD182Download only

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