Grüber, F: Silent Night

Enchanted Carols is Howard Goodall's second album as part of his Composer in Residence position at Classic FM. His previous album Enchanted Voices, remained at No. 1 in the Specialist Classical Chart for 23 weeks selling over 25,000 copies to date, as well as winning the Specialist Classical Album of 2009 recently at the Gramophone Awards.

This new album sees Goodall return with the same musicians from Enchanted Voices recording the top ten carols as voted by Classic FM listeners. With all of the nation’s favourite carols beautifully sung with the angelic and moving sound of the Enchanted Voices singers.

Also on the album are six brand new carols penned by Goodall giving a refreshing take on Christmas choral music.

Tenebrae return to disc on Signum with a sumptuous collection of songs and carols for Christmas time. Anyone who has heard this finely tuned, professional choir in action before will be understandably excited to hear them bringing these festive works to life.

The first of this month’s ‘double bill’ from Westminster presents a delightful and unusual selection of music for Christmas from the Abbey Choir. It encompasses all the diverse themes of Christmas which have inspired composers across the ages: light shining in darkness; the tenderness of mother and child; the fulfilment of promise; and the warm merriment of corporate celebration.

An excellent selection of contemporary carols features the composers Jonathan Dove and Bob Chilcott among others. The richness of twentieth-century church music is illustrated in works by Poulenc, Walton, Mathias and Leighton, and by the heartbreakingly lovely piece The little road to Bethlehem by Michael Head. Skilful arrangements of the traditional carols Silent night, In dulci jubilo and I saw three ships, complete this attractive seasonal release.