THE THREE KINGS; MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS FROM TEWKESBURY ABBEY
Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum
Benjamin Nicholas, director
Carleton Etherington
DELPHIAN DCD34047 66'02"

The Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum was founded in 2006 as successor to the Abbey School Choir, the choristers now attending Dean Close Preparatory, Cheltenham. This fine recording is evidence that, under the direction of the gifted and imaginative Benjamin Nicholas, high standards are being kept up. From the rousing 'Ecce' launching Gabriel Jackson's The Magi to Tavener's Christmas Proclamation with its Orthodox echoes, the bright-toned choir shows skill in instantly embracing every change of style and mood. Carols by Parry convey the sense of celebrations in the 'good old days', and in Cornelius' The Kings, with Christopher Borrett taking the solo, the balance is just right. Though tradition is respected, more modern composers (Bassi, Wilby, and Whitacre) are well represented too. Carleton Etherington's performance of Edmondson's Toccata-Prelude Vom Himmel Hoch makes an apt conclusion. CNS