Carols from Trinity - The Choir of Trinity College (2 CDs) (Conifer)

This absolutely essential Christmas collection is actually a combination of two Trinity College Choir recordings originally released separately under the titles "Carols from Trinity" and "A Child Is Born," the latter of which is still offered as a single CD. This two-disc set is a great value, both financially and musically. Here are 53 of the finest, most popular, best-loved, and best-sung Christmas carols, anthems, and motets from medieval times to the present, performed and recorded in the wonderful acoustic space of the Trinity College Chapel. Unlike the choirs of Trinity's famous Cambridge neighbors, King's and St. John's colleges--which consist entirely of men and boys, Trinity is a mixed ensemble with female sopranos and altos. The tone, blend, and balance are exquisite and the combination of the three stands as an ideal, and the choir's ensemble technique and musicianship are unsurpassed. --David Vernier Amazon.com

Well-crafted music in the Anglican style

This is familiar, traditional Christmas music, very well-crafted and performed in the Anglican style of hymnody. One of the best ever Christmas albums. January 15, 2008

Exquisite descants and flawless performance

I have had the Carols from Trinity CD for years and,without doubt, it is the most delicious selection of Christmas music from the English tradition executed in the most exquisite manner. I also have A Child is Born, which, although splendid, is not as captivating as the first collection.
Particularly breathtaking are Richard Marlowe's gorgeous descants. They soar! Listen to "O Little Town of Bethlehem", it makes the back of your neck tingle! Similarly, "While Shepherds Watched" comes to new life in Marlowe's arrangement.
I have yet to find a finer set of Carols performed so flawlessly. November 2, 2005

Energized performance of a wide variety of repertoire

The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge has youthful energy and also mature musicality in this delightful, but still very serious recording of sacred choral Christmas music. Perfect diction, dynamics, and tone, led by Richard Marlow, director. The second disc is better than the first--it contains less traditional music and more unaccompanied British choral music, what the choir does best. A great gift for choral enthusiasts and traditional carol lovers alike.

Best tracks: "What Cheer?" by William Walton, "The Three Kings" by Peter Cornelius, "Coventry Carol" by Kenneth Leighton, "Hymn to the Virgin" by Benjamin Britten, "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day" arr. by David Willcocks, "A Great and Mighty Wonder" arr. by Richard Marlow. December 31, 2004

My favorite Christmas CD (s)

The disc 1 of this collection was first released over a decade ago, and it quickly became my favorite Christmas CD. So much so I wore it out(scratched from constant shuffling in and out of a myriad of Cd players).. I was delighted when it was rereleased with a second CD. The second CD isn't quite as memorable, but is an excellent collection of more obscure music than the first. Definitely add this to your Christmas list if you enjoy the "big", high church Anglican style... I sure do! April 18, 2003

One of the very best recordings of its type

This recording looks back to the English choral tradition as it was in its heyday during the 1950's and 1960's, when The Choir of Kings College issued so many wonderful recordings under Boris Ord and Donald Willcocks.Kings is still in business, of course, but today Richard Marlowe and the Choir of Trinity College are better exponents of this tradition than Kings College itself, at least on the evidence of this recording. The choice of music on these two CDs is widely varied and the price is certainly right.Best of all, this recording can work for many different audiences, from those who know the English tradition, to those who know only the pop-inflected John Rutter version of it, to those who have never heard an English choir but can appreciate musical "comfort food," especially at Christmas time. March 25, 2000

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