trad.: Infant Holy

A rare, beautiful and unusual Christmas compilation: three 1960s Argo recordings of contemporary settings and arrangements of carols – Sir Cristemas, Sing Nowell and Carols Of Today – released collectively on Decca CD for the first time.

It is a worthy reissue of the many recordings made for Argo by The Elizabethan Singers and their long-time musical director Louis Halsey.

Recording producers: Michael Bremner, Andrew Raeburn

Recording engineers: Michael Mailes, Stanley Goodall

Recording locations: Holy Trinity Church, Kensington, London, UK, July 1963, April 1965, April 1966

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

The 2008 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, recorded live by BBC Radio 3 in "the magnificent recording studio that is King’s College Chapel.” The service marked the 80th anniversary of its first BBC broadcast and the start of a year-long celebration of the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University.

An impressive and refreshing collection of carols, presenting a distinctly British blend of contemporary adaptations (many of the arrangements are by Howard Burrell) and lesser-known original works.

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.

'The starlight, the shepherds, the angels and kings all tell us of Christ and the joy that he brings.' So runs the chorus of a carol recorded here and set to an English traditional melody. Christmas is above all a time of celebration, and these recordings of no fewer than thirty carols vividly communicate the sense of joy and wonder which is at the heart of the Christmas message. It has been specially recorded by Southwark Cathedral Choir to showcase 'The Carol Book', an exciting new publishing venture from the Royal School of Church Music.