Carols & Readings

Carols & Readings

St George's Bristol
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December 2011

Nigel Nash Conductor

Claire Alsop Pianist

Programme

PART 1

Choir: In dulci jubilo - J S Bach (1685-1750)
  Make we joy - David Morgan (b.1946)
Everyone: The First Nowell - English trad., arr. David Willcocks (b.1919)
Reading: The Sifting - Lowell M Durham Jr
Choir: Angelus ad virginem - trad., arr. Nigel Nash
  The Truth from above - English trad., arr R Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Reading: Mary of Nazareth - Clive Sansom, The Witnesses
Choir: I sing of a maiden - Patrick Hadley (1899-1973)
  Hymn to the Virgin - Benjamin Britten (1913-76)
Reading: Cathedral Carol Service - Wendy Cope
Choir: What sweeter music - Richard Rodney Bennett (b.1936)
  Lux aurumque - Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)
Everyone: O come all ye faithful - arr. Willcocks
Choir: This day Christ was born - William Byrd (1540-1623)
  The Holly and the Ivy - Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941)
Reading: Carols Today
Choir: Ding dong! merrily on high - 16th C. French, arr. Stephen Tanner


PART 2

Choir: I saw three ships - English trad., arr. John Rutter (b.1945)
Reading: 25.XII.1993 - Joseph Brodsky, trans. Richard Wilbur
Choir: Quelle est cette odeur - French trad., arr. Willcocks
  Tryste Noel - Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Everyone: See amid the winter's snow
Reading: Dominic's Story - Gervais Phinn
Choir: Three Carols - Peter Warlock (1894-1930)
    Tyrley Tyrlow
    Balulalow
    The Sycamore Tree
Reading: Christmas: The Game - Craig Brown
Choir Shepherds cradle song - arr. Charles MacPherson (1870-1927)
  Stille Nacht - Franz Gruber, arr. Donald Cashmore (b.1926)
Everyone: Hark the herald angels sing
Choir: The rose in the middle of winter - Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
Reading: Dear Father Christmas - Alan Coren
Choir: Jingle bells - Ralph Allwood (b.1950)

Claire Alsop

Claire Alsop was born in Durham where she had organ lessons with James Lancelot at Durham Cathedral. She then studied music at Bristol University, during which time she was organ scholar at Bristol Cathedral, and had lessons with David Briggs at Gloucester Cathedral.

On graduating Claire was appointed organist of Cheltenham Ladies College, where she worked until 2001, and she was also accompanist to the Cheltenham Bach Choir under Stephen Jackson. Claire continued to teach in Cheltenham on a part time basis after the birth of her first child, and in 2003 she spent a term as acting director of music at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol. She gained the FRCO diploma in 2006, winning the Turpin prize. Claire is assistant organist at St Mary Redcliffe church, together with her husband Graham. She enjoys teaching piano and organ, and with four children, her musical activity ranges from accompanying Choral Evensong to supervising Grade 1 piano practice!

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