trad.: O little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)

First time complete on CD.

Newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios

This set presents for the first time complete on CD the 28 carols with orchestra that John Rutter recorded for EMI in 1966 and 1968

The glorious acoustic of the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral and the astounding verve and professionalism of Rutter’s young singers and players come up afresh in this new Abbey Road remastering

This was the beginning of Rutter’s worldwide fame as Christmas arranger, composer and conductor of choice, and in an affectionate and amusing new booklet note, he recalls his first two recordings and the icy perils of winter recordings in the Fens

Christmas resonates with the sound of familiar seasonal music - music that is evocative, uplifting, cheerful, and above all, comfortable. There can surely be no other body of choral repertoire that has such immediate appeal, and this comes about largely through widespread familiarity and love of the tried and true favourites. The Graduate Choir, NZ needs little excuse to break out the tinsel or to indulge in the beauty of some of the most enduring pieces of seasonal music.

Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Simon Halsey and joined by the amassed Newcastle-based choirs Northern Sinfonia Chorus and youth choir Quay Voices, ring in the holiday season with ‘Rejoice! Christmas at The Sage Gateshead’, a festive live recording featuring traditional carols, popular tunes and modern favourites.

Ring in the season with ‘Rejoice! Christmas at The Sage Gateshead’, with resident orchestra Northern Sinfonia conducted by Simon Halsey and joined by the amassed Newcastle-based choirs Northern Sinfonia Chorus and youth choir Quay Voices. This festive live recording features something for everyone – traditional carols such as The First Nowell, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful, popular tunes including Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells, and modern favourites such as Howard Goodall’s The Lord is my Shepherd – making it the perfect stocking filler for far-flung family and friends.

Mardi Brass take a break from their 4-CD series “Something Old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” (3 CDs out on LIR, final volume due out next year) and present their own take on popular Christmas carols, with the dynamic King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, under the baton of Tom Appleton. This recording includes a premiere of “See Christmas All Around us Shine” written by Ed Maxwell, alongside their own quirky and lively arrangements of well-known classics.

Mardi Brass is a versatile and dynamic brass quintet which performs music in a plethora of musical styles spanning six centuries. Since its founding in 1992, the group has performed throughout Britain, thrilling audiences with its blend of music and humour. Performance venues have included London’s Purcell Room and the Edinburgh Fringe; the group has also appeared on BBC1, BBC2, and numerous radio stations.

King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, under the direction of Tom Appleton and assisted by pianist and composer John Byron, is one of the UK’s most talented and dynamic community choirs. As well as being resident choir for the prestigious King’s Lynn Festival, it performs concerts throughout the year to large audiences in King’s Lynn and beyond.

Following a poll conducted by Classic FM to find the nation’s favourite traditional Christmas music, the station has specially commissioned Silent Nights, a wonderful collection of well-known Christmas music, beautifully arranged for piano and strings by renowned contemporary composer Nigel Hess. Brand new for 2010, this stunning album includes tranquil favourites ‘Away In A Manger’ and ‘Silent Night’, and more celebratory pieces ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’. Nigel plays the piano himself, in a rare opportunity to hear the composer play, and is accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s string section. Since Christmas can be a frantic time, the album is the perfect antidote to the busy December period.

Silent Nights is peaceful, tranquil, and reflective music, with timeless melodies that evoke memories of childhood, family, and the warmth of home.

A varied programme of Christmas music, including familiar and some unfamiliar items, recorded in the largest mediaeval church in Northern Europe with its spectacular acoustic.

First recordings of new carols by Richard Shephard and John Scott Whiteley.

Robert Sharpe’s first recording with the Minster Choir since taking up the appointment of Director of Music at the Minster in September 2008.

A collection of well-loved traditional Carols performed by the critically-acclaimed Truro Cathedral Choir, directed by Robert Sharpe.

Features all the Carols regularly sung at Truro Cathedral’s Nine Lessons and Carols and Midnight Mass services.

First recordings of two new carols by leading British composers Gabriel Jackson and Howard Skempton, commissioned by Truro Cathedral.

Includes Regent producer Gary Cole’s blues-inspired arrangement of Away in a Manger.