Alfred Deller: Christmas Carols and Motets. Vol.3 (4 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Alfred Deller
Audio CD
SPARS Code: A-D
Number of Discs: 4 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Musical Concepts
Size: 861 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Pat-a-Pan (Burgundian)
02. We Three Kings of Orient Are
03. I Saw Three Ships
04. Coventry Carol (2): ‘Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child’
05. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
06. Good King Wenceslas (Piae Cantiones, 1582)
07. Once in Royal David’s City
08. Hajej, nynej, Jezishku (Rocking Carol) (Czech)
09. The First Nowell (English)
10. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (English)
11. Wither’s Rocking Hymn (‘Sweet baby, sleep! What ails my dear?’), carol for chorus
12. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (Silent Night)
13. Wassail Song (‘Here We Come A-Wassailing’), carol
14. Dormi Jesu!
15. The Boar’s Head Carol
16. Past Three O’clock, carol (English)
17. Lullay my liking, for soprano & chorus, Op. 34/2, H. 129
18. Adam Lay Ybounden
19. Herrick’s Carol, for voice & ensemble
20. Angelus ad virginem (English)
21. The Holly and the Ivy (English)
22. O Jesulein süss, sacred song for voice & continuo (Schemelli Gesangbuch No. 203), BWV 493 (BC F234)
23. Song of the Nuns of Chester (‘The Chester Carol’) (English)
24. Winter-Rose, carol (English)
25. In dulci jubilo, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 368 (BC F110)

Disc: 2
01. Deck the Halls (Welsh)
02. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (adapted by W. H. Cummings from Mendelssohn’s Festgesang for the Gutenberg Festival)
03. Lute-Book Lullaby
04. Ye Shepherds, folk song
05. Joy to the World (theme by Handel)
06. Down in Yon Forest, carol (English)
07. People, Look East! (Besançon carol)
08. Blessed Be That Maid Marie (English)
09. Sir Christèmas
10. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming), for chorus
11. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis)
12. The Twelve Days of Christmas
13. Wassail Song (‘Here We Come A-Wassailing’), carol
14. All my heart this night rejoices, hymn
15. Joseph dearest, Joseph mine (Joseph, lieber Joseph mein), carol
16. I Saw Three Ships
17. How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (Children’s Song of the Nativity)
18. The Birds
19. The old yeare now away is fled (English)
20. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (English)

Disc: 3
01. Gymel
02. Nowell, Nowell, Tidings True (‘Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, this is the salutation’)
03. Sanctus
04. Edi Beo Thu, Hevene Queene, carol (English)
05. Qui Natus Est
06. Burden and Carol, for consort
07. Nova, Nova, Ave fit ex Eva
08. Angelus ad virginem (English)
09. Hail Mary Full of Grace (15th Century)
10. In Die Nativitas
11. There Is No Rose of Such Virtue (English)
12. Kyrie, for 3 voices, MB 1
13. Quid Petis, O Fili?, carol for 4 voices
14. I Saw (English)
15. Out Of Your Sleep (Seldon manuscript)
16. Fauxbourdon, for ensemble
17. Quam pulcra es, antiphon for 3 voices, MB 44

Disc: 4
01. De Nativitate Domino
02. Ave Maria
03. Decet huius cunctis horis
04. In nativitate domini à 4
05. O Regina, lux divina à 3
06. Hodie Christus natus est, for 4 voices
07. Nesciens Mater
08. Et in terra pax
09. Crist and Sainte Marie
10. Sancta Maria, non est tibi similis, respond & antiphon for 3 voices, MB 48 (probably by Binchois)
11. O Maria virgo (isorythmic motet)
12. Gloria
13. Puer natus est nobis/Et filius, introit for 6 voices
14. Foeno iacere
15. Maria zart
16. Beata progenies, for 3 voices
17. Alleluya Psallat

SUPERB REMASTERING OF AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION

If you’re a fan of early Christmas music, this collection is for you. I became a fan of Alfred Deller and the Deller Consort through the “Hark Ye Shepherds” recording years ago. I’m delighted that all 4 of the Deller Consort Christmas recordings are avaliable on CD. The singing is superb, and the selections run from the familair to the esoteric. This collection is also a wonderful showcase for Mr. Deller’s extraordinary counter tenor voice.