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

Note that there are two CDs on this recording--you get more than your money's worth of music. (I should point out that the choir does abbreviate some of the longer hymns--"Once in Royal David's City" gets cut down to three verses, for example--which I find slightly annoying but others may appreciate.) There is a variety of musical styles, including several hymns with descants, a little bit of Bach and some modern carol settings. There are a few organ solo pieces as well, though these are quite short.

I give this recording my very highest recommendation.


One of the very best recordings of its type   March 25, 2000
Josiah Fisk (New Salem, Massachusetts)
26 out of 27 found this review helpful

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.


Energized performance of a wide variety of repertoire   December 31, 2004
news4fan (Washington, DC area)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

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.


Exquisite descants and flawless performance   November 2, 2005
K. J. Ross (Bermuda)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

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.


My favorite Christmas CD (s)   April 18, 2003
Sean P. Doyle (Edmonds, WA USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

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!