Listen & tracks
2 of 31 tracks have a preview · 18 works · 35:28
-
1 Here we go up to Bethlehem Sydney Carter :36
-
2 Standing in the Rain Sydney Carter 1:48
-
3 Every Star shall sing a Carol Sydney Carter 2:58
-
4 Jesu Parvule Donald Swann 2:36
-
5 The Storke Carol Donald Swann 2:05
-
6 Jubilate Domino Donald Swann 1:24
-
7 Christmas Donald Swann 2:40
-
8 The Devil wore a Crucifix Sydney Carter 1:19
-
9 Psalm 95: Venite Donald Swann 2:31
-
10 The Clock Carol Donald Swann 1:35
-
11 Sanctus Clemens non Papa 1:08
-
12 Judas and Mary Sydney Carter 2:02
-
13 Praise the Lord who reigns above Donald Swann 2:03
-
14 The Fruit of the Tree Donald Swann 1:35
-
15 Dust, Dust and Ashes Traditional 2:47
-
16 I Lie down with God Donald Swann 1:16
-
17 Lord of the Dance Sydney Carter 2:18
-
18 Benedictus Donald Swann 2:47
Recorded at St Mark’s Church in London’s West End in May 1968, the set mixes Swann’s own settings with songs by Sydney Carter and a handful of traditional and liturgical pieces. Boys of Westminster School and girls of Mayfield School, Putney, join him, with Nicholas Jackson at the organ.
Carter’s ballads sit beside canticles, a spiritual, a hymn and a round, all aimed at young singers and household listening as much as church use.
A simple animation from Carter’s 1972 Australian tour accompanies one of the songs.
In the artist’s words
The songs on this record represent the sum of my musical wanderings in this uncertain field of the carol. Because of the latitude I have allowed myself, two canticles, a spiritual, a hymn, and a round augment the list, which are, in their various moods of worship and praise, as good as the several songs of Sydney Carter which he himself describes as songs, ballads or carols.
Reviews
…A charming record, one which would be appreciated by young people interested in church activities.
Swann’s carols… are peculiarly Swann-ish, crisp, right on target in their thrust of meaning, and witty to boot. He is aided in many by the excellent children’s voices of the boys of the Westminster School, and the girls of Mayfield School, Putney…
…There is much variety in the actual performances. Swann solos occur, but there are unaccompanied choruses, a girls’ chorus with triangle and piano, boys’ chorus with guitars and double bass, and so on...
…The music is bright and tuneful, yet has more quality and depth than much of to-day’s “modern” church music. The 18 songs are ideal for choirs (including those which whistle), congregations and children, but are specially suitable for apply listening in your own home...
Artists
Donald Swann
piano, vocals
Donald Ibrahím Swann (30 September 1923 – 23 March 1994) was a British composer, musician and entertainer. He is best known to the general public for his partnership of writing and performing comic songs with Michael Flanders (a.k.a. Flanders and Swann).
Sydney Carter
composer
Sydney Carter (1915–2004) was an English poet, folk singer and songwriter. He is often called a hymn-writer for Lord of the Dance, though his songs range across faith, protest, doubt and ordinary life.
Charles Wesley
composer
Charles Wesley's hymns still carry congregations and choirs: bold doctrinal verse made for singing, from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today to Love Divine and Jesu, Lover of My Soul.
John Betjeman
composer
Michael Hoban
composer
Eleanor Hull
composer
Eleanor Hull wrote the English versification of the Old Irish prayer Rop tú mo baile, known as the hymn Be Thou My Vision. The 1912 text is sung as standard congregational hymnody on recordings of favourite hymns.
David Marsh
composer
Clemens non Papa
composer
Clemens non Papa’s motets are high Renaissance polyphony at full stretch: Marian devotion in O Maria, vernans rosa, Christmas wonder in the six-voice O magnum mysterium, and the stark grief of Vox in Rama.
Paul Townsend
composer
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Donald Swann · piano, vocals · all except tracks 1, 4, 11, 13 and 15
- Boys of Westminster School Choir · choir · all except tracks 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 16
- Girls of Mayfield School Choir · choir · all except tracks 3, 4, 7, 12, 15–17
- Nicholas Jackson · organ · tracks 4, 6, 13 and 18
- Susan MacDonald · vocals · tracks 3 and 16
- Peter Wilson · vocals · track 3
- Helen Denniston · vocals · track 16
- Sylvia Junge · conductor · all except tracks 7, 12 and 16
Details
- List price
- $15.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 35 minutes 28 seconds
- Release date
- May 1968
- Categories
- Choral, Christmas
- Genres
- Choral & Sacred, Children's, Christmas
- Musical work copyright
- © 1968 Move Records
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 1968 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MD 3002
- EAN
- 9314574300222
More to explore
The World is a Beautiful Place
The Australian Rosny Children’s Choir presents A Dozen of Dennis, Peter Davies’s settings of twelve poems from C. J. Dennis’s A Book for Kids, with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Gabriel's Mother's Highway
Franciscus Henri presents songs by Sydney Carter, Elton John and Arlo Guthrie alongside three of his own. Produced by Brian Cadd, the album settles into a gentle folk-rock style with clear acoustic colour.
Sydney Carter In Concert
Poet and songwriter Sydney Carter visited Australia in 1972 for concerts and workshops across the country. This recording captures one of those live events in full, preserving his wry, questioning songs as they were heard on the tour.
The Present Tense: Songs of Sydney Carter
The songs of Sydney Carter are an enigma. Folk, religious, satire and protest never quite fit. They have depth and integrity, and they press us to face and question our innermost thoughts and conflicts.
Words, Love, Music: Sydney Carter
Songs and poems by Sydney Carter from the 1950s to the 1970s, spanning social protest, faith and everyday life, performed by Carter and guest singers including Sheila Hancock, Franciscus Henri and Nadia Cattouse.
Seven Whole Days: Music for the Contemporary Church
Seven Whole Days is Jim Minchin’s second Move album of contemporary church song, recorded across Melbourne and Singapore in 1969 with singers and instrumentalists from both places.