Carols For A Christmas Morning: A Choral Knockout That’ll Punch Your Festive Feels
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—Carols For A Christmas Morning isn’t just another holiday album. This sucker, led by The Choir Of Magdalen College Oxford under Grayston Ives’ baton, is a full-on choral assault on your soul. If you’re looking for saccharine pop renditions of Christmas classics, bounce. But if you want something raw, timeless, and holy enough to make your chest tighten, stick around.
First off, the UK crew doesn’t mess around. With Past Times as their label and Martin Souter producing this gem (shoutout to engineer Edward Horn for making it sound like heaven itself), they’ve crafted an album that feels ancient yet alive. And yeah, there’s organ work from David Davies sprinkled throughout, because what’s Christmas without some pipe-organ drama?
Now, onto the tracks. You’ve got 21 bangers here, but two stuck with me like gum on a shoe. First up: “In Bleak Midwinter.” Holy crap, this one hits different. The harmonies are so crisp they might cut you if you’re not careful. It’s haunting, man. Like staring out at snow-covered fields while questioning your entire existence. They don’t overdo it; no flashy tricks, just pure vocal power. When those voices swell on "Snow had fallen, snow on snow," it’s like someone’s squeezing your heart in the best way possible.
Then there’s “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” which flips the script entirely. This version doesn’t just sing—it roars. The energy? Insane. It’s celebratory but still grounded, like a cathedral throwing a rave for Jesus. By the time the choir belts out “Glory to the newborn King!” you’ll wanna grab the nearest candle and march into the night screaming hymns. No joke.
Look, I’m not saying every track will blow your mind. Some lean more background-music-for-your-egg-nog vibe, but even then, the craftsmanship shines through. Tracks like “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” feel familiar yet fresh, thanks to the choir’s tight delivery and Ives’ direction keeping things sharp.
Here’s the kicker though—this isn’t just Christmas music. It’s bigger than that. Listening to Carols For A Christmas Morning feels like stepping into a centuries-old tradition where faith, art, and humanity collide. Weirdly, it made me think about how disconnected we are now. Like, could we even pull off something this beautiful in 2023 without half the choir checking their phones mid-rehearsal? Probably not.
So yeah, whether you’re religious or not, this album slaps hard. Just don’t blame me when you find yourself humming “In Bleak Midwinter” in July.
