The album title, Carolae, reflects a fusion of English and American Christmas traditions, drawing inspiration from King's College, Cambridge, and Westminster Choir College's 'An Evening of Readings and Carols'.
Composition History
Two works on this album, 'A great and mighty wonder' and 'Winter's Wait', were premiered by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, at their televised Christmas service.
Recording & Production
The recording for this album took place at Princeton University Chapel in New Jersey, USA, from May 16th to 19th, 2016.
Performer Biography
The Westminster Williamson Voices, founded by James Jordan in 2003, is a GRAMMY® nominated ensemble known for its artistry, recordings, and commitment to performing new music.
Composer Biography
Robert Tear, a former King's College choral scholar and international tenor, was a long-time friend and collaborator of James Whitbourn, and wrote the texts for several pieces on this album, including 'Winter's Wait', 'Hodie', and 'The Magi's Dream'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer James Whitbourn's Christmas music is deeply influenced by the rich medieval heritage of carols, and his new melodies reflect a love for medieval musical language.
Compositional Technique
The 'Missa carolae' incorporates popular European Christmas carol melodies throughout, with each movement beginning on a note one degree higher than the last (D-E-F-G), creating a rising progression of keys.
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