Recordings Terms & Conditions

Christmas Music by Candlelight
Alleluya, a new work

£12.00 (currently unavailable)


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Listen to a sample:
O magnum mysterium
Tece, voda tece
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Many Ex Cathedra fans will have experienced the very special atmosphere at our Christmas Music by Candlelight concerts, which have been at the heart of the choir’s year for almost 30 years. We are delighted to announce that a new CD of music from these concerts is now available to order from Ex Cathedra priced at £13 (including post and packing).

Christmas Music by Candlelight – Alleluya, a new work, is an evocative mix of old and new typical of a Candlelight concert. Jeffrey Skidmore describes the new CD as “challenging and demanding and, we hope, uplifting and refreshing. The music deserves your attention.”

Most of the music is from the 20th century including classics such as Holst’s soothing In the bleak mid-winter, Warlock’s ravishing yet delicate Bethlehem Down and Britten’s beautifully understated theme from A Boy was born. Other works included are John Gould’s tender Sans Day Carol, Peter Wishart’s bell-like Alleluya, a new work is come on hand, Villette’s sensuous setting of Hymne à la vierge, Sydney Carter’s Every star shall sing a carol, Samuel Barber’s setting of Laurie Lee’s inspirational poem Twelfth Night, and a sublime arrangement of the Moravian folk-song Tece voda, tece, asking for peace.

The disc also features five works recorded for the first time, of which four are Ex Cathedra commissions. Ex Cathedra regularly commissions new works – ten over the past five years. These have included a series of commissions of settings of the great O Antiphons, which form part of the Advent Liturgy and are set for the seven days preceding Christmas – the second, fourth and seventh O Antiphons by Roderick Williams, Daryl Runswick and Fyfe Hutchins appear on the CD. A fourth Ex Cathedra commission, Philip Sheppard’s Christmas at Sea, is also recorded, with the composer playing electric cello.

“Excellent!...An eclectic mixture that this wonderful choir has evolved over 30 years…A breath of fresh air in a market dominated by the tried, the tested and the often rather stale…Ex Cathedra is a fantastic choir who know who they are and sing with pride and polish and flair.”
Ian Burnside / BBC Radio 3 CD Review

“Softly glowing candlelight in a darkened church, creaking box pews crammed with hushed listeners. This could have been a scene from any century – then came the glorious music.”
The Birmingham Post