These words of this carol, full of colours and rich in symbolism, are from the Cherry Tree Carol , a popular folk carol telling a legend which goes back at least as far as the Coventry Mystery Plays. The piece received its first two performances on the same day, by Robinson College Choir and Clare College Choir, in Cambridge, and was later recorded by Robinson College Choir, conducted by Timothy Brown. The main tune should have an easy-going lilt, which turns into light, sprightly dancing for the refrain. An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. Jeremy Thurlow is a composer, writer and pianist. His music has been described as 'seductive, innovative, full of freshness' by Henri Dutilleux. It has been performed by the BBC Philharmonic, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Rolf Hind, the BBC Singers, Endymion, Carmen Elektra, Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Matthew Schellhorn and Sequitur (New York), among others. In 2007 he won the George Butterworth Award for new composition. As a musicologist he writes on French music in the twentieth century. His book on composer Henri Dutilleux is published in French by Millénaire III, and he has written and broadcast on the music of Messiaen and many other 20th-century composers, frequently appearing on Radio 3's CD Review. / Choeur SATB

The 'Missa brevis in E flat minor? for mixed choir a cappella has been composed in the tradition of the short Mass (without Credo) and can be easily managed by most choirs. Thanks to its conciseness, it is suitable for use in church services, while its delightful harmonic layout and consciously simple melodies (with clear allusions to folk music) also make it perfect for concert performance.'My music is my own and I have never tried to be original. That has always been my motto and I have only tried to use music to express all the feelings which life has to offer. This has led people to describe my music as 'so sad that it sounds like birds who have lost their wings' but also as 'the happiest classical music that we have ever heard'.My compositions are almost all sacred. They express not only my own faith but also my appreciation and respect for the timeless texts that have been used for centuries and centuries.'Mårten Jansson (b. 1965), elected member of the Föreningen svenska tonsättare (the Society of Swedish Composers), graduated from the Royal College of Music, Stockholm (KHM) with an MFA degree in Music Education, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Voice. For more than ten years he was the music director and conductor of 'Carmen?, one of the most prominent womens' vocal ensembles in Sweden. He currently teaches choral conducting and music theory as well as giving vocal tuition at the Bolandgymnasiet and Musikskolan in his home town of Uppsala. / Choeur Mixte

This album for mixed choir and piano contains a selection of richly varied choruses from Italian, French, German, English and Russian operas from the 17th to 19th centuries, illuminating the great diversity of the genre. Included are opera choruses from the following works: · Claudio Monteverdi: L'Orfeo · George Frideric Handel: Acis and Galatea HWV 49b · Christoph Willibald Gluck: Alceste (Vienna Version 1767) · Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Idomeneo K 366 · Franz Schubert: Fierabras D 796 · Vincenzo Bellini: Norma · Camille Saint-Saens: Samson et Dalila · Georges Bizet: Carmen · Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Eugen Onegin (Cyrillic script with transliteration) / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Par BIZET GEORGES. / Niveau : Avancé / Répertoire / Choeur (SATB) et Orchestre à vent