Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Poor old Rochester: the cathedral of the second most ancient diocese in England but forever - at least in the popular mind - labelled as the other cathedral in Kent and one suspects that this label may also - quite unfairly - be attached to the choir. Truth be said, the Choir of Rochester Cathedral may not yet be in the first rank of cathedral choirs but under Director Scott Farrell it is certainly moving in the right direction. This latest release in Regent Records' popular 'Christmas From' series gives the choir every chance to shine and shine it most certainly does. We open and close with two firm favourites, "Once In Royal David's City" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" both taken a little too slowly for my taste but they are in tempos that the congregation could manage and that allow Stephen Cleobury's descant line to come through in "David's City". The programme also includes a number of pieces that are more familiar to choirs than to congregations such as the haunting "There Is No Rose" and the robust "Torches" by the South African born John Joubert, the beautifully simple "I Sing Of A Maiden" by Lennox Berkeley, "The Three Kings" by Peter Cornelius in the arrangement by Ivor Atkins and with a splendid bass solo from David Hansford, the popular double choir setting by Robert Lucas de Pearsall of "In Dulci Jubilo" and the joyful "Make We Merry" of Andrew Carter. Bob Chilcott gives us three pieces: a new setting of "In The Bleak Midwinter" which is the first version that I have heard that may, possibly, one day replace the beloved one by Holst; "The Night He Was Born" with words by Helen Dunmore and a modern feel to the tune; and the thrilling percussion-led "Where Riches Is Everlasting" written for the Cantate Youth Choir and here given a rousing performance. Another highlight is a splendid setting by Rochester's Assistant Director of Music of Timothy Dudley Smith's "Child Of The Stable's Secret Birth" which is well worth hearing. Thus there is much to enjoy on this release and the different combinations of voices from the Boy Choristers, Girl Choristers and Lay Clerks with suitable accompaniment from organists Samuel Rathbone, Roger Sayer and Dan Soper keeps our interest throughout.

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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