Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

For many - and perhaps one could write most - choirs, Christmas would not be Christmas without the Oxford University Press's Carols For Choirs. Book One, "the green one", appeared in 1961, edited by David Willcocks and Reginald Jacques, with Book Two following in 1970 and Book Three in 1978, both co-edited by Willcocks and John Rutter. Between 1950-57 David Valentine Willcocks (born 1919) served as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Worcester Cathedral, which also involved being Director of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival. From Worcester he returned to King's College, Cambridge where he had previously been an organ scholar. There he turned the already well-established Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols into the globally famous and much-loved institution that it has become thanks to its annual BBC broadcast. This recording features 23 of his best-known arrangements, ranging from exquisite gems of quiet stillness to rousing shouts of majestic praise, sung by the Choir of Worcester Cathedral. The Cathedral Choir is joined by the Worcester Festival Choral Society and Sennet Brass for the large-scale favourites, including "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing." Nearly all are very well known and the only one that was new to me was the 14th century "Resonemus Laudibus" which features some splendid organ playing by Christopher Allsop. All titles have that familiar "arr Willcocks" although it should be said that Sir David always lets the original lead the way rather than imposing his own style upon it, which is surely a hallmark of a great arranger. A personal favourite is "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", a traditional song arranged by another musical knight of the realm, Sir Arthur Sullivan, so we have a credit of "trad. arr A Sullivan and Willcocks" where it should perhaps be "re-arranged Willcocks". Another element to a choral Christmas since 1961 has been Sir David's inspiring descants that soar above the melody, breathing new life into what could become tired old chestnuts. While Sir David Willcocks was, in his lifetime, a famous organist and well-respected choir master his legacy to church music since his death in 2015 is as an arranger and on this disc we hear why. If you have any interest in or affection for traditional choral singing at Christmas this album is indispensable.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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