The Choir - Christmas Music for Choirs

It's one of the great challenges for a choral composer - how to write new and distinctive Christmas music. Aled Jones talks to Sasha Johnson Manning whose Manchester Carols aim to retell the story of the Nativity for the 21st century. Plus the antidote to famous carol overload, a selection of Christmas choral rarities. Playlist Lutosławski: Hey! We rejoice now (extract) Polish Radio Chorus and Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antoni Wit Sasha Johnson Manning: Mirabile dictu The Manchester Carollers, Northern Chamber Orchestra conducted by Richard Tanner TMC CD1, track 2 Sasha Johnson Manning: New Boy Born The Manchester Carollers, Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Tanner TMC CD1, track 10 Anon: Nova Nova Taverner Choir, conducted by Andrew Parrott EMI CDC7498092, track 4 Sasha Johnson Manning: A Miracle The Manchester Carollers, Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Tanner TMC CD1, track 8 Sasha Johnson Manning: The Gold of Straw The Manchester Carollers, Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Tanner TMC CD1, track 11 Sasha Johnson Manning: An Angel The Manchester Carollers, Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Tanner TMC CD1, track 9 John Turner: A song on the birth of Christ BBC Singers directed by David Hill BBC Recording Leon Roberts: Come Bless the Lord Quire QUIRE002, track 1 Short extracts of Dominic Muldowney: Leaves on the Line King’s Singers Dominic Muldowney: The Fall of Jerusalem Leeds Festival Chorus Private recordings Carols you’ve never heard! Bo Holten: I denne sode juletid Musica Ficta conducted by Bo Holten NAXOS 8554627, track 18 Anon English 15th Century: Eya mater Stephane Oxford Camerata, directed by Jeremy Summerly NAXOS 8550751, track 10 Romance de Virgen y el Ciego Die Singphoniker with Irmgard Gorzawski (harp) CPO 7770672, track 15 Päivi Ojanoerä: Joulun sydänyö (On Christmas Night) Philomela conducted by Marjukka Riihimäki Alba NCD 34, track 7 Roderick Williams: O Adonaï Ex Cathedra conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore EXCCD003, track 5 Plainchant: Vox clara, ecce, intonat Anonymous 4 HARMONIA MUNDI HCX3957139 t6 Links The Manchester Carols www.themanchestercarols.com