DCD34047-CD

The Three Kings: music for Christmas from Tewkesbury Abbey

In the vast, echoing space of their medieval home the boys and men of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum celebrate the awe and mystery of Christmas, ushering in the birth of the Christ-child with a sequence of carols from the last two centuries that combines familiar names with offerings from some of today’s foremost composers.

"They can be justly proud of this recital, in both the standard of performance and enterprising choice of music."

"I doubt whether there are many more admirable choirs outside Westminster, Oxford and Cambridge than the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum…Nicholas’s choir give proof yet again of the qualities that place
them firmly in the front rank: f
lair, acumen, versatility and poise"

CHURCH TIMES

"The choral singing is superb, and the record ends with a Toccata-Prelude on Von Himmel Hoch by Garth Edmondson, very well played by Etherington, recorded in excellent sound."

"It is very hard not to use superlatives when speaking of Ben Nicholas and his choir at Tewkesbury Abbey, and once again I fail. This is yet another quite outstanding disc of the highest standard and a triumph for all those who placed faith in Benjamin Nicholas and Carleton Etherington, the Abbey Organist, following the closure of the Abbey School two years ago."

CHOIR SCHOOLS TODAY

"the bright-toned choir shows skill in instantly embracing every change of style and mood."

THE ORGAN

"I love the boldness of the music-making here, the emotional commitment of all concerned and the fascinating repertoire mix, crowned by Gabriel Jackson’s ‘The Magi’ and John Tavener’s ‘God is with us’."

"...the boys sing with sonorous and rounded tone. Rarely can the choir have sounded on better form than they do here"

ORGANISTS' REVIEW

 

"If you happen to live in or near Tewkesbury then you are very lucky as this latest recording by the Abbey Schola Cantorum is something special. The boys’ sound is bright and full."

CATHEDRAL MUSIC

Release date: 29 October 2007
Catalogue No: DCD34047
Total playing time: 1:06:02
 
Recorded on 5-7 March 2007 at Tewkesbury Abbey
 
Producer: Paul Baxter
Engineer: Adam Binks
24-bit digital editing: Adam Binks
24-bit digital mastering: Paul Baxter
 
Design: Drew Padrutt
Photography: Paul Baxter & Dr Raymond Parks
 

Album Booklet

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