Carols From Coventry

Coventry Cathedral Choir and Coventry Cathedral Girls' Choir

Director: David Poulter

Organ: Paul Leddington Wright and Daniel Moult

Hodie Christus natus est Plainsong Once in Royal David's city H.J.Gauntlett, harm. A.H.Mann Zion hears the watchmen's voices J.S.Bach A maiden most gentle trad. French, arr. Andrew Carter Fairest of morning lights Robert Ashfield Of the Father's heart from 'Piae Cantiones' arr. David Willcocks Whence is that goodly fragrance? Old French arr. A.E.Baker Chorale prelude 'In dulci jubilo' BWV608 organ J.S.Bach While shepherds watched their flocks 16th century The little road to Bethlehem Michael Head The Holy Boy John Ireland

Chorale prelude 'In dulci jubilo' BWV729 organ J.S.Bach Angels' carol John Rutter O little town of Bethlehem traditional arr. R. Vaughan Williams On Christmas night (Sussex Carol) traditional arr. Philip Ledger Four interludes on Christmas carols organ W.S.Lloyd Webber O come all ye faithful arr. David Willcocks In the bleak midwinter Harold Darke Hark, the herald angels sing F.Mendelssohn Silent night Franz Gruber arr. Ian Little Total playing time 67m 00s

Coventry Cathedral Choir

Formed in 1962 by the first Precentor of the new Cathedral, Canon Joseph Poole, the voluntary choir of men and boys is dedicated to the musical ministry of the Cathedral, which is unique among the Cathedrals of England.

Leofric and Godiva founded a Benedictine Abbey Church on the site in 1043. This building was to become Coventry's first Cathedral early in the twelfth century, only to be destroyed following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. Coventry again became a Cathedral city in 1918, when the new diocese was established. Following the destruction of the medieval church of St. Michael in 1940, the renowned Cathedral designed by Sir Basil Spence was consecrated in 1962.

The Cathedral has no choir school, and draws its choristers from local schools. At any given time there will be up to forty boys, including eight trainees. Boys sing both treble and alto lines. The Choral Clerks, tenors and basses, follow individual careers.

The choir sings four choral services a week and broadcasts periodically for radio and television. The choristers are in demand for concert work and the choir tours frequently, having sung in France, Germany, Bavaria, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, the USA and Jamaica.

Coventry Cathedral Girls' Choir

Coventry Cathedral Girls' Choir, the first of its kind at Coventry Cathedral, was formed in November 1993 and consists of over forty members aged ten to sixteen, drawn from schools all over the city.

The Girls' Choir made its Cathedral debut at the Family Carols concert in 1993, and sang its first Evensong in June 1994. In the same month it joined with other choirs and the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Berlioz' Te Deum. The choir has since taken part in a number of BBC TV Songs of Praise recordings, a performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony at Warwick University and engagements in local churches and other Cathedrals, as well as participating in the International Church Music Festival in Coventry Cathedral. The Girls' Choir sings one choral service each week.