Review: The familiar hymn Veni Emmanuel is emblematic of the Advent season - a period of reflection upon the meaning of Christ's coming. Framing this program by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, directed by Graham Ross, the hymn paraphrases the great 'O' Antiphons (plainchant settings traditionally sung on the days leading up to Christmas), complemented here by later works echoing their rich imagery and symbolism.

Songlist: Veni, veni Emmanuel, Vigilate, Antiphon I: O Sapientia, The fear of the Lord, Antiphon II: O Adonai, O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, Antiphon III: O Radix Jesse, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Antiphon IV: O Clavis David, Audivi vocem de caelo, Antiphon V: O Oriens, Hymn to the Creator of Light, Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern, Christus: Say, where is He born, There shall a star from Jacob, Antiphon VI: O Rex Gentium, Bethlehem Down, I sing of a maiden, Antiphon VII: O Emmanuel, God Is With Us, Antiphon VIII: O Virgo Virginum, All-Night Vigil, Op.37: VI: Bogoroditse Dyevo, Gloucester Service: Magnificat, O come, O come, Emmanuel

Review: Reflection celebrates 500 years of music-making in the English Parish Church. Over the centuries, on a daily basis, music has played an enormous role in enhancing the experience of Christian worship. The legacy is a vast body of music in many different styles to be enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike. Reflection focuses on those works of great beauty which provide spiritual nourishment and a place of sanctuary from today's busy lives. Reflection features familiar composers such as Byrd, Tallis, Bach, Mozart and Elgar giving over an hour's music to soothe the soul.

Songlist: Ave verum Corpus, In pace in idipsum, Come, Holy Ghost, O nata lux de lumine, Ave verum, Lord for thy tender mercies sake, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Ave Maria for 5 voices, O Saviour of the World, Jesus decus angelicum, Thou know'st, Lord, If Ye Love Me, O Taste and See, Ave verum corpus, Panis angelicus, O Vos Omnes, Give alms of thy goods, Never Weather-Beaten Sail for voice, Momento, homo (O Lord, give ear)

Review: Both the Folk Songs of the Four Seasons and this arrangement of In Windsor Forest are world premiere recordings. The Folk Songs of the Four Seasons is a substantial work by Vaughan Williams, over 40 minutes long, for women's chorus and orchestra. It is the most significant of his works never to have been recorded in any format.The Folk Songs of the Four Seasons was commissioned by the Women's Institute and first performed in 1950. The work has a Prologue and four sections: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.The coupling is the rare arrangement for women's voices, by Guthrie Foote and Vaughan Williams, of the Cantata In Windsor Forest based on choruses from the opera Sir John in Love.This new Albion recording is issued to mark the 90th birthday of Sir David Willcocks on 30 December, 2009. Sir David is world famous for his recordings for EMI and for his work at King's College, Cambridge and the Bach Choir. For Sir David to record another major Vaughan Williams disc at the age of almost 90 is remarkable in itself and will ensure national and international interest in this recording.

Songlist: Prologue. To the Ploughboy, Spring. Early in the Spring, Spring. The Lark in the Morning, Spring. May Song, Summer. Summer is a-coming in / The Cuckoo, Summer. The Sprig of Thyme, Summer. The Sheep Shearing, Summer. The Green Meadow, Autumn. John Barleycorn, Autumn. The Unquiet Grave, Autumn. An Acre of Land, Winter. Children's Christmas Song, Winter. Wassail Song, Winter. In Bethlehem City, Winter. God Bless the Master, The Conspiracy (Sigh no more, ladies), Falstaff and the Fairies (Round about in a fair ring-a), Wedding Chorus (See the Chariot at hand), Epilogue (Whether men do laugh or weep)

Review: When you have one of England's premiere choirs being directed by one of England's foremost director while singing some of the finest traditional carols then you most certainly have yourself a wonderful holiday recording. Noted baritone Simon Vaughn is featured and many of the songs are accompanied by the Clare College Orchestra.

Songlist: Shepherd's Pipe Carol, Infant holy, infant lowly, Angel Tidings, Quelle est cette odeur agreable, Once in Royal David's City, Il est ne le divin enfant, I saw three ships, In dulci jubilo, Nativity Carol, Quem pastores laudavere, Rocking, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Here we come a-wassailing, The Coming of our King, O come, O come, Immanuel, The Infant King, Sheperds'Noel, Noel nouvelet, O little town of Bethlehem, Gabriel's Message, Sans Day Carol, Stille Nacht, Flemish Carol, Past three a clock

Review: Bringing together the voices of adults and children, Rutter's Mass of the Children is scored for mixed choir, soprano and baritone soloists, orchestra, and the irresistible charm of a children's choir. Rutter's skilful writing for these forces together with his sensitive interweaving of both the Latin Mass texts and Thomas Ken's renowned morning and evening hymns for Winchester College, gives the whole work the framework of a complete day, from waking to sleeping. This has resulted in one of his finest and most moving works to date.

Songlist: Mass of the Children, Shadows, Wedding Canticle

Review: Rutter's Requiem, from 1985, is wildly popular among modern choirs, audiences, and record shoppers. It is offered here in the world premiere recording of its chamber version, making what is considered a concert piece more suitable for liturgical purposes or intimate venues. This, along with many of his other works, has a direct, uncluttered, almost folksy air to it, while hardly ever lapsing into banality. Just when you begin to think, "Ah, I've heard this kind of stuff before", up Rutter comes with some ingenious device or harmonic twist that grabs even the most jaded ear. And he knows how to hold such a comparatively larger-scale composition together, too. This is one of Rutter's finest and most convincing works. It consoles, implores, worships, affirms, reassures, and mystifies-everything that a good requiem is supposed to do. Instrumental accompaniment (single flute, oboe, cello, harp, and timpani, plus percussion) is spare, but expert and tasteful. Rutter has a long and fruitful history with the Clare College Choir, having led them himself in quite a few outstanding recordings. They perform here with their usual depth, sensitivity, technical finesse, and bright, clear sound.

Songlist: Requiem Aeternam Out Of The Deep, Pie Jesu, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, The Lord Is My Shepard, Lux aeterna, Advent Anthem, Anthem, Musicca Dei Donum, Two Blessings

Review: The choral works of Henry Purcell (1659 -95) are sung here with near perfection under the direction of Timothy Brown.

Songlist: Te Deum, Jubilate Deo, My Beloved Spake, O God, Thou Art My God, Lord, How Long Wilt Thou Be Angry, Remember Not, Lord Our Offences, Here My Prayer Oh Lord, Thou Knowest Lord, Funeral March, Man That Is Born Of Women, In The MIdst Of Life, Canzona

Review: Famous for his keyboard works Sweelinck was also a skilled composer for voices as well, and composed over 250 works for voice (chansons, madrigals, motets and Psalms). Some of Sweelinck's innovations were of profound musical importance, including the fugue-he was the first to write an organ fugue which began simply, with one subject, successively adding texture and complexity until a final climax and resolution, an idea which was perfected at the end of the Baroque era by Bach. This is a world premiere recording of the complete Latin Motets, including the Christmas motet Hodie Christus natus est.

Songlist: Gaudete Omnes, Ecce Virgo Concipet, Magnificat, Hodie Christus Natus Est, Angelius Ad Pastores Ait, Ab Oriente, In Illo Tempore, Hodie Beata Virgo Mariae, Regina Coeli, Omnes, Timor Domini, Non Omnis, Lusti Autem, Baeti Pauperes, Ecce Nunc Benedicte, Euge Serve Bone, Petite Et Accipietis, Vide Homo, Videte MAnus Meas, O Quam Beata Lancea, VEnire Exsultemus Domino, Ubi Duo Vel tres, O Scrum Convivium, Ecce Prandium, In Te Domine Speravi, Tanto Tempore, Viri Galilaei, CAntate Domino, Qui Vult enire Post Me, Diligam Te Domine, and more

Review: This highly regarded chorus is considered to be one of the top university choirs in England and one can both see and hear why on this well-produced DVD. Filmed in the famous Clare Chapel, the fine performances by the choir makes this video a real treat. Features John Rutter's "Gloria", Britten's "Festival dec deum" and "Rejoice in the Lamb:, Bernstein's "Chichester Palms" with five negro spirituals by Sir Michael Tippet. With 68 tracks and a 2.45 hours running time this DVD is also well priced.

Songlist: Chichester Psalms, Psalm 108, v. 2; Psalm 100, Psalm 2, vv. 1-4; Psalm 23, vv. 1-6, Psalm 131; Psalm 133, v. 1, Gloria, Gloria in Excelesis Deo, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Quoniam tu solus sanctus, Festival Te Deum, Rejoice in the Lamb, Six negro Spirituals: Steal away, Nobody knows, Go Down Moses, By and By, Deep River

Review: Enjoy this top-notch choir and get in the Christmas mood by both watching and listening to some wonderful singing directed by Timothy Brown. Filmed at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Songlist: O come, O come Emmanuel, King Jesus hath a Garden, The Holly and the Ivy, Once in Royal David's city, Stille Nacht, Personet Hodie, In Dulci Jubilo, While Shepards Watched their Flocks by Night, O come, all ye Faithfull, Coventry Carol, God rest you Merry, Gentlemen, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing