A Minstrel’s Christmas – English, German, Czech, French, Austrian Carols from many periods

Contents:

1. Anon., England, early C14: Alleluya psallat**
2. Anon. C17: Patapan
3. Anon., traditional: Here We Come a-Wassailing*
4. Anon. London Wait: Past Three o’Clock
5. Anon. Trad., England: I Saw Three Ships
6. Anon. Trad., England: The Coventry Carol
7. Anon. C16 (spring carol): Good King Wenceslas (text: J.M. Neale, C19)
8. Joseph Möhr & Hans Grüber: Silent Night
9. Anon., trad: Elizabethan popular: The Old Year Now (Greensleeves)*
10. J.H. Hopkins: Hymn: We Three Kings of Orient Are
11. Anon., traditional: Down in Yon Forest*
12. Anon. Trad., England: The First Nowell
13. Anon. Czech Carol: Rocking (Hajej, nynjej)
14. Anon. England: Christmas carol: God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen
15. Anon: Dormi Jesu
16. Anon. Ca.C15: Boar’s Head Carol
17. Anon. medieval & Gustav Holst (arr.): Lullay My Liking
18. E.H. Sears & R.S. Willis: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
19. Anon. Germany & Robert Herrick, 1647: Herrick’s Carol
20. C.J. Alexander & H.J. Gauntlett: Once in Royal David’s City
21. Anon. medieval/Cecil Sharp (arr.): Carol: The Holly and the Ivy
22. Anon. Germany (Scheidt & J.S.Bach (harmonised): O Little One Sweet
23. Anon. medieval, (ca 1425): Processional song of the Nuns of Chester
24. Anon. C16: Winter-Rose
25. G.F. Handel (attr.): Joy to the World (text: Isaac Watts)*
26. Anon. C14, arr. Bach: Carol: In Dulci Jubilo (harmonised: J S Bach)
27. Anon., traditional, old Welsh: Deck the Halls*
28. Anon. William Ballet’s Lute-book Lullaby* 2
29. Ye Shepherds leave*
30. Anon., traditional, old Besançon: Carol tune: People Look East*
31. Anon., traditional, Blessed be that Maid Mary*
32. Anon., ca 1520-30: Sir Christemas*
33. Anon.C15, arr.M.Praetorius.: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming*
34. Anon.: The Twelve Days of Christmas*
35. Johann Georg Ebeling: All My Heart This Night Rejoices*
36. Anon., traditional, Czech: The Birds*
37. Anon. Trad., England: Wassail Song* (counter-tenor version)
38. Anon., traditional, England (west country): A Merry Christmas*

Alfred Deller, counter-tenor & director Deller Consort / Desmond Dupré, lute / Stanley Taylor, recorder / April Cantelo, soprano /Gerald English, tenor / Maurice Bevan, baritone *Group as above but instead sopranos Eileen Poulter & Mary Thomas, and additional tenor Wilfred Brown; ** Deller Consort with Musica Antiqua Wien / René Clemencic

“Opening vivaciously, this collection simulates a visiting village group with pleasing simplicity …Many highlights from Deller himself, on magical form here” (Penguin Guide)