In the Stillness: A Merton Christmas

In the stillness of a midnight stable, a babe is born … In the stillness of an Oxford chapel on a winter’s afternoon, a girl’s voice sings.

The newest star in Oxford’s choral firmament, the girl choristers of Merton College have been singing services under the directorship of Benjamin Nicholas for less than five years: in their debut album recording, supported by the lower voices of the Chapel Choir, they tell once more in music from across the centuries the timeless Christmas story of light, hope and joy for a troubled world.

Listen

Track listing

Edward Elgar - Angelus

Michael Head - The Little Road to Bethlehem

Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych - Carol of the Bells

Errollyn Wallen - Peace on earth

Lennox Berkeley - I sing of a maiden

John Ireland - The Holy Boy

John Rutter - Star Carol

arr. Michael Nicholas - Infant holy

Gabriel Jackson - Hush! my dear

JS Bach - Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BMV605

Marc-Antoine Charpentier - Sing to the infant boy

JS Bach - Von Himmel kam der Engel schar, BMV607

arr. Edward Higginbottom - Rocking Carol

Beniamin Britten - A New Year Carol

arr. GR Woodward - Up! good Christen folk

Sally Beamish - In the stillness

John Joubert - Torches

Christopher Dearnley - The growing limbs of God the Son

Gustav Holst - In the bleak mid-winter

Michael Praetorius/Melchior Vulpius - There is a flower springing

David Bednall - Sweet was the song

John Rutter - Candlelight Carol

In the Stillness: A Merton Christmas