Adam lay ybounden - Philip Stopford
Isaiah's Prophecy - Alexander L'Estrange
This is the truth sent from above - (arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams)
The holly and the ivy - (arr. June Nixon)
Lullay my liking - Owain Park
Susanni - Grayston Ives
Sweet was the song the Virgin sang - Kerensa Briggs
Sussex Carol - (arr. Philip Ledger)
O little one sweet - Ben Ponniah
As I sat on a sunny bank - Malcolm Archer
Moonless darkness stands between - Philip Wilby
I wonder as I wander - Carl Rütti
Wie schön leuchtet (Meditation) - David Bednall (Organ solo)
I sing of a maiden - Carleton Etherington
Ding dong! merrily on high - (arr. Stuart Nicholson)
Three are the precious gifts - Neil Cox
Before the paling of the stars - James Lavino
Nowell sing we - Matthew Martin
Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol - George Baker (Organ solo)

For once a new disc of choral Christmas music featuring many premiere recordings of new music from the 21st century which doesn't completely veer off on an unsuitable and misdirected tangent that would otherwise totally distract from the spirit at hand. In fact, many of these new songs may very well come to be considered traditional "carols" in the future, as they somewhat exude, in their own way, the same mysteriously festive spirit as the ones we are all very familiar with.

For example, Before the paling of the stars by American composer James Lavino (b. 1973) is a highly evocative a cappella setting of a 19th century poem. Or Lullay my liking by Owain Park (b. 1993) based on a 15th century text and just as harmonically pure as music from that period. The upbeat and joyful As I sat on a sunny bank by Malcolm Archer (b. 1952), a clever twist on traditional texts. Even the organist, usually the overlooked underdog of the Christmas season, gets to shine here with the sonically impressive Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol by George Baker (b. 1951), commissioned for the choir.

Whoever curated this collection of old and new, did an excellent balancing act, blending seamlessly the contrasts between traditional and modern, without shaking the Christmas tree. Highly recommended if you're looking to hear hitherto unrecorded choral works for this festive season.