15 Favourite Christmas Carols
Christmas carols without a choir or singers. Recorded in the spectacular acoustics of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne with cathedral organ, brass ensemble and tubular bells. Arranged and conducted by Christopher Willcock, with Douglas Lawrence playing the organ, Dal Barbare, tubular bells and glockenspiel, and the Festival Brass Ensemble.
Dal Barbare tubular bells, glockenspiel
Festival Brass Ensemble ensemble
Douglas Lawrence organ
This out of the ordinary recording of carols is performed on tubular bells, glockenspiel, brass and organ. All the carols were specially arranged for this recording and are conducted by Christopher Willcock. The glockenspiel and organ tracks were recorded at Ormond College Chapel.
Press quote
“The quality the sound on the disc is high. The recording is particularly successful in catching the full flavour of the organ in St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne as played by Douglas Lawrence. ... Once in Royal David's City is provided with a running counterpoint to break up the steady chug from chord to chord.”
— Roger Covell, Sydney Morning Herald
Artists
Christopher Willcock
Christopher Willcock (born 1947) is an Australian Jesuit priest and one of the most prolific and frequently published Catholic composers of liturgical music.
Dal Barbare
A versatile percussionist. He was a member of the Australian Percussion Ensemble, and performed frequently with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Festival Brass Ensemble
The Festival Brass Ensemble is a group of three trumpet players and two trombonists, active in Melbourne during the seventies.
Douglas Lawrence
Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne and was the founding director of Choir of Ormond College, a position he held from 1982 to 2006.
Track Listing
- While shepherds watched
- Unto us is born a son
- Sussex carol
- We three kings
- Hark! The herald angels sing
- Sing aloud on this day
- It came upon the midnight clear
- Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen
- Once in royal David's city
- The first nowell
- The Coventry carol
- Silent night
- O come all ye faithful
- Angels from the realms of glory
- God rest you merry, gentlemen
Performers
- Christopher Willcock
- Dal Barbare · tubular bells, glockenspiel
- Festival Brass Ensemble
- Douglas Lawrence
Where to listen
15 Favourite Christmas Carols is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
15 Favourite Christmas Carols is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
Related recordings
A Baroque Christmas
The music on this CD is a historical Christmas “pick of the pops”, from the late 1400s to the end of the Baroque period. Directed by Douglas Lawrence, the Australian Chamber Choir offers a program recorded live in concert during their 2019 European tour. The 17 tracks are drawn from from lesser-known seasonal works, championing a sublime repertoire that is all too often neglected.
The 12 Days of Christmas
The Choir Of Ormond College here sings several carols long held in affection around the world but adds to these with newer works accompanied by renowned Australian pianist, Stephen McIntyre.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Choir of Ormond College presents a wonderfully varied selection of Christmas carols, 28 joyous tracks in all. Directed by Douglas Lawrence
Music from Heaven
The Choir of Ormond College directed by Douglas Lawrence. This highly acclaimed CD features superb pieces by Gregorio Allegri, Byrd, Poulenc, Britten, Barber and J.S. Bach.