Eton College Chapel Choir, Ralph Allwood - Christmas Music From Eton College

Published Wednesday 22nd November 2006
Eton College Chapel Choir, Ralph Allwood - Christmas Music From Eton College
Eton College Chapel Choir, Ralph Allwood - Christmas Music From Eton College

STYLE: Choral
RATING 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21089-11813
LABEL: Sanctuary CDRSN3076
FORMAT: CD Album

Reviewed by Liz Knowles

This CD is a re-issue from 2000 of festive fare from the boys of Eton College. There is a distinct weighting towards medieval music sung in Latin. Five different versions of the "Ave Maria" are perhaps a nod in the direction of Henry VI's founding of Eton in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1440. The acoustic is wonderfully churchy and it's a fine example of English cathedral-style singing. It's polished, pristine, precise, perhaps even brilliant, but for me lacks the looseness of joyful celebration. It feels too distant from the earthy connection of incarnation, too clean, too elitist, too male even. Don't buy it if you want all your favourites to sing along. If you want to hear some different music from the vast Christmas repertoire, it's certainly a quality recording to add to the collection.

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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