VOX CAPE TOWN PRESENTS
A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
Every December, VOX Cape Town presents a locally-flavoured adaptation of the famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that was first sung at King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918. Since 2016, this service has also been broadcast on Fine Music Radio on Christmas Eve, bringing this unique musical celebration to a much wider audience. We are delighted to announce that our recording of the 2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is now available for digital download and as a physical album release.
Folk carols from Spain and Poland are presented alongside Christmas songs by Peter Warlock (England), Francis Poulenc (France) and Arvo Pärt (Estonia) and congregational hymns such as “Once In Royal David’s City”, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. Excitingly, this recording of the 2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols also features the first recording of a new South African carol especially commissioned by VOX Cape Town to expand the local choral repertoire, setting the scene for a unique and locally-relevant celebration of Christmas “under a Southern sky” (as illustrated by Casey Driver on the album cover).
Physical copies of this album may be purchased from Upbeat Music in Sea Point or by emailing us directly at [email protected]. The album is also available for digital download from online music stores, including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.
TRACK LISTING
1. ORGAN PRELUDE In Dulci Jubilo BuxWV 197 Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
2. OPENING HYMN Once In Royal David’s City (Soloist: Jenni van Doesburgh)
3. THE BIDDING PRAYER (Read by Reverend Natalie van Rooyen)
4. CHORAL PRELUDE Veni, Creator Spiritus (“Come, Creator Spirit”)
5. FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 (Read by Aaron Juritz)
6. CAROL Pula, Pula! (“Rain, Rain!”) Franco Prinsloo (b. 1987, South Africa)
7. SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18 (Read by Jenni van Doesburgh)
8. CAROL Ríu, Ríu, Chíu Traditional Spanish (Soloists: Chris Arnold and Nick Gorven)
9. THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2,4-7 (Read by Anthea van Wieringen)
10. HYMN Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending
11. FOURTH LESSON Micah 5:1-3 (Read by David Patrick)
12. CAROL Bethlehem Down Peter Warlock (1894-1930)
13. FIFTH LESSON St Luke 1:26-38 (Read by Dr Barry Smith)
14. CAROL Bogoróditse Djévo (“Rejoice, Mother of God”) Arvo Pärt (b. 1935, Estonia)
15. HYMN O Little Town Of Bethlehem
16. SIXTH LESSON St Matthew 1:18-23 (Read by Lesley Jennings)
17. HYMN Away In A Manger
18. CAROL Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Traditional Polish arr. Sir David Willcocks
19. SEVENTH LESSON St Luke 2:8-16 (Read by Kyle Paulssen)
20. HYMN While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
21. CAROL Quem Vidistis Pastores Dicite Francis Poulenc (1899-1963, France)
22. EIGHTH LESSON St Matthew 2:1-11 (Read by Michael Marchant)
23.CAROL Follow That Star Peter Gritton (b. 1963, England)
24. NINTH LESSON St John 1:1-14 (Read by Reverend Douglas Bax)
25. HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful
26. CAROL Christmas in Africa Music by Maike Watson (b. 1989) / Words by Margaret Kollmer (b. 1936)
A new South African carol commissioned by VOX Cape Town especially for the 2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
27. THE COLLECT AND BLESSING (Read by Reverend Natalie van Rooyen)
28. FINAL HYMN Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing
29. ORGAN VOLUNTARY In Dulci Jubilo BWV 729 JS Bach (1685-1750)
VOX Cape Town
John Woodland (Director)
Erik Dippenaar (Organ)