John Rutter's work as co-editor of the second volume of Carols for Choirs, known as the 'Orange Book', supplied amateur and professional choirs with a rich repertoire of seasonal compositions.
Compositional Technique
James MacMillan's "O radiant dawn" uses repetition and reiteration, including six-fold statements of the word 'come' and six final amens, to magnify the text's spirit of ecstasy.
Interpretation
The recording features a mix of traditional and contemporary carols, with traditional carols using simple harmonizations from the 1928 Oxford Book of Carols.
Performer Biography
Harry Christophers, founder and conductor of The Sixteen, is also the Artistic Director of Boston's Handel and Haydn Society and Principal Guest Conductor of the Granada Symphony Orchestra.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Morten Lauridsen, composer of "O magnum mysterium," aimed to impart a transforming spiritual experience and profound inner joy through his music, inspired by a painting by Francisco Zurbarán.
Composition History
Peter Warlock, composer of "Bethlehem Down," and his friend Bruce Blunt wrote the carol in 1927 to sell to a newspaper, conceiving the words on a journey between two pubs.
Performer Biography
The Sixteen, recognized as one of the world's greatest ensembles, has released over 150 recordings spanning 500 years of music.
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