Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

As we reach the end of the Royal Jubilee year it is appropriate to celebrate Christmas with the Choristers of St George's Chapel, Her Majesty's chapel in Windsor Castle. On this enjoyable mid-price disc we get a selection of traditional favourites combined with less well-known carols and Christmas music complemented by three seasonal organ solos played by the renowned organist and Director of Music of St George's Chapel, Timothy Byram-Wigfield. We open, inevitably, with "Once in Royal David's City" with Head Chorister Henry Crawshay-Williams doing the honours as soloist (and doing it very well, let it be said) and then range across the centuries going as far back as thirteenth century Germany for "Personent hodie" in Holst's arrangement and into the twentieth century with John Rutter's arrangements of "Il est ne le divin enfant" and "Tomorrow will be my dancing day" as well as his own "Star Carol". The surprises - pleasant ones, to be sure - include "When Jesus was born" from John Stainer's 'I desired wisdom' and "Angel's Prayer" from Engelbert Humperdinck's 'Hansel And Gretel'. If I have a criticism it is that there are points when we really need the gentlemen of the choir, for example in "Ding, dong! merrily on high" and "Hark! the herald angels sing" but this release is intended to showcase the art of the boy chorister and in giving us almost an hour I think we can say it succeeds. When we add in the three organ solos, the lovely "Noel Suisse" by Louis Claude Daquin, Edwin Lemare's "Adeste fidelis", and Bach's "Chorale Prelude: In dulci jubilo" we can say we get both quality and quantity and the CD does what its title promises and celebrates Christmas.

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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