1 People, Look East
2 Nowell Sing We
3 Once in Royal David's City
4 The Bells of the City of God
5 I Sing of a Maiden
6 While Mary Slept
7 Infant Holy
8 Coventry Carol
9 The Magi's Dream
10 In the Bleak Midwinter
11 There Is No Rose
12 I Sing of a Maiden
13 The Dawn of Redeeming Grace - Andrew Wyatt
14 All My Heart This Night Rejoices
15 I Sing of a Maiden - Christopher Gray/Truro Cathedral Choir
16 Away in a Manger
17 Illuminare, Jerusalem
18 All the World Tonight Rejoices
19 Variations On 'Greensleeves' - Andrew Wyatt
In May 2021, the boys, girls, lay vicars and choral scholars of Truro Cathedral Choir, under its director, Christopher Gray, embarked on recording a full-length album – possibly the first UK cathedral choir to do so since national lockdown began in 2020. The recording was made under social distancing conditions, and Truro Cathedral Choir rose enthusiastically to the occasion, their musicianship and creativity shining through while meeting the evolving challenges of the pandemic.
Since the first ‘Nine Lessons’ took place at Truro Cathedral on 24th December 1880, the service has been an annual highlight, with people coming from far and wide to experience the Christmas story told in words and music. The previous director of music, Robert Sharpe, instigated the now-firmly-established tradition that the choir premieres a newly-commissioned carol at this special service each year. Over the years, this has included some of the UK’s most gifted composers. There are several Truro commissions featured here, and seven first recordings in a refreshingly-different collection of music for Christmas.