Remastered Cathedral Christmas CD celebrates 20 years
18/12/2007
A beautiful Christmas collection has been released on CD to celebrate Music Director, Richard Jeffrey-Gray’s twenty years years at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol. ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ (Latin for 'O Great Mystery'), which was first recorded by Clifton Cathedral Choir in 1987 and published on cassette, went on to become the sound of Christmas in many homes around the world.
Twenty years later, Richard, the humble engineer and editor of the original analogue recording, has returned to the session recordings to bring the wonderful music to audiences anew. He said: “Following repeated requests we are pleased to present this recording on CD, restored and re-edited from the original session tapes with the latest technology - but with the same ears that produced the original classic!
“This collection of Christmas carols and organ music brings together both the well-known and the relatively unknown. It ranges across the centuries - from the ancient ‘Coventry Carol’, to Poulenc’s radiantly beautiful setting of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’.The inclusion of Handl’s ‘Resonet In Laudibus’, Sweelinck’s ‘Hodie Christus Natus Est’ and ‘In Dulci Jubilo’, reflects Clifton Cathedral Choir’s consistent championing of music from the Renaissance era as well as more modern influences.
“The remainder of the programme is made up of largely well-known carols, though occasionally in an arrangement that throws unexpected new light on to these favourites. For example, spread amongst the choir items are two Chorale Preludes by Bach. - two from the Schübler collection and two from the Orgelbuchlein collection. And the final piece is a Noël by Daquin, a Parisian who wrote a collection of twelve Noëls based on ancient country dances.”
Clifton Cathedral Choir, a voluntary choir, is one of the most broadcast in the country. It helped celebrate Christmas Day for international TV and radio broadcasts in 2005 and 2006. And the choir sang music composed by Richard Jeffrey-Gray for the last ever flight of Concorde with a live audience of over 100,000 which was broadcast internationally.
People interested in finding out more about Clifton Cathedral choir can email music@cliftondiocese.com. To purchase a copy of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ for just £10.00 visit the site below or call 0117 974 1153. Discounts are available for bulk orders.