Vidimus Gloriam Eius
Luceat Choir/James Fellows
rec. 2021, Keble College Chapel, Oxford, UK
Contents beneath review
Texts and translations provided

Hymnus HYMCD102 [2 CDs: 108]

The “festive season” approaches apace, hence I have visited these two discs from the Luceat Choir, whose Assumpta est Maria (Music for the Feast of the Assumption) I approvingly reviewed earlier this year. Here, under their director James Fellows they present another complete liturgical recording, this time of the traditional Anglican service for Christmas, combining nine carols, both traditional and new, with nine “lessons” – scriptural extracts – read by members of the Oxford Vaccine Group.

The ethos of Luceat centres upon ensuring that music be heard within its proper context, especially with regard to liturgical music, hence this is not a “performance” as such but a journey through the Christmas story of the incarnation, with readings complementing the hymns and carols, providing the opportunity for meditation. Beginning with Saint Hildegard von Bingen’s antiphon as the Introit sets an elevated, even exotic atmosphere, strongly contrasting with the almost over-familiar “Once in royal David’s city”, sung very satisfyingly in turn first solo, then in harmony and finally with descant. The solemnity of prayer is lifted by the exuberance of Mendelssohn’s brief, miniature antiphon, sung in German.

I do not propose to comment on every item here but commend the variety of choice and the secure beauty of the choral singing, which is lovely throughout, with perfect intonation and faultless homogeneity. The arrangements are unfailingly diverting and often sufficiently novel to invest old favourites with additional interest, as per June Nixon’s use of a charming old French carol tune to set anew “The Holly and the Ivy”, concluding with a mighty organ coda. This is followed by Stephen Cleobury’s uplifting arrangement of the English medieval carol “Joys Seven”. The music – even the more modern numbers – is unashamedly traditional and melodious, with none of the spiky, disorienting messes which some choir directors today consider indispensable, but that does not preclude adventurous harmonies and piquant dissonances of the kind encountered in “A spotless rose” by Aaron King (b. 1995) and “A Patre unigenitus” by Carl Rütti (b.1949) or Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of “The Sussex Carol” in a jaunty, jigging 7/8 time signature. Otherwise, comfortingly familiar arrangements by such as Sir David Willcocks predominate but new settings like that of the Basque carol “Sing Lullaby” with a soaring descant all afford untrammelled delight. A minor flaw is the inadequacy of one soloist in “We three kings” – but let that pass…

The service concludes with two suitably rousing pieces: the obligatory and ever-welcome “Adeste fideles” which builds triumphantly, then a mighty organ voluntary from Messiaen’s La nativité du Seigneur. Perhaps its determined quirkiness and frantic aggression do not sit that comfortably with the more conventional Christmas fare which has preceded it but it certainly attests to the virtuosity of organist Rory Moules.

The listener may follow and feel included in the service via the provision in the booklet of the complete texts of the prayers, readings and carols, full notes, biographies and a foreword by Fr Darren McFarland, the vicar of St Andrew’s Headington, who is also the officiant for the opening and closing prayers.

I can imagine Vidimus Gloriam Eius (We have seen his glory) being played as a surrogate for attending the Christmas Day church service itself in many a household where “a traditional Christmas” is maintained and would make a welcome gift for any so inclined.

Ralph Moore

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Contents
Hildegard: O Pastor animarum
Gauntlett: Once in royal David’s city (arr. O’Donnell)
Welcome, Bidding Prayer, Lord’s Prayer and Benediction
Mendelssohn: “Weinachten” from Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79, MWV B 42
The First Lesson
trad.: In dulci jubilo (arr. Pearsall)
trad.: The holly and the ivy (arr. Nixon)
The Second Lesson
trad.: Joys Seven (arr. Cleobury)
The Third Lesson
King: A spotless rose
trad.: Of the father’s heart begotten (arr. Willcocks)
The Fourth Lesson
Rütti: A Patre unigenitus
trad.: Sussex Carol (arr. Chilcott)
The Fifth Lesson
Rutter: Dormi, Jesu
Goss: See amid the winter’s snow (arr. Willcocks)
The Sixth Lesson
trad.: Quelle est cette odeur agréable? (arr. Willcocks)
The Seventh Lesson
trad.: Sing Lullaby (arr. Quinney)
trad.: The first Nowell (arr. Willcocks)
The Eighth Lesson
Stopford: Lully, lulla, lullay
Hopkins: We Three Kings (arr. Neary)
The Ninth Lesson
Rutter: What sweeter music
trad.: Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (arr. Wilberg & Stevens)
The Collect, Proclamation and Blessing
Stopford: A Christmas Blessing
anon.: Adeste fideles (arr. Ledger, Willcocks & Fellows)
Messiaen: “Dieu parmi nous” from La Nativité du Seigneur