A Carol Symphony

Album by Christian Victor Hely-Hutchinson & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra & Gavin Sutherland

A Carol Symphony is a symphonic suite by Victor Hely-Hutchinson, composed in 1927. The work weaves traditional Christmas carol melodies into orchestral movements and choral textures, representing a lighter, pastoral strand within his output that bridges hymn-like harmonies and early 20th-century orchestral colour.
First released: 2002

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Improvisations on Christmas Carols: I. Allegro (God rest ye merry gentlemen)
    2:22
  2. 2.
    Improvisations on Christmas Carols: II. Andante non troppo (Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen)
    2:47
  3. 3.
    Improvisations on Christmas Carols: III. Slowly (Past three o'clock)
    2:34
  4. 4.
    Improvisations on Christmas Carols: IV. Moderato (I saw three ships)
    2:30
  5. 5.
    Improvisations on Christmas Carols: V. Allegro (Ding dong merrily on high / Unto us a boy is born)
    2:26
  6. 6.
    A Carol Symphony: I. Allegro energico (Adeste fideles)
    4:11
  7. 7.
    A Carol Symphony: II. Scherzo: Allegro molto moderato (God rest ye merry gentlemen)
    6:05
  8. 8.
    A Carol Symphony: III. Andante quasi lento e cantabile (The Coventry Carol / The First Nowell)
    8:43
  9. 9.
    A Carol Symphony: IV. Allegro energico come prima (Here we come a-wassailing / Adeste fideles)
    5:47
  10. 10.
    Bethlehem Down, a carol for strings
    4:12
  11. 11.
    Wassail Dances (1978): I. Vivace (Somerset wassail)
    2:22
  12. 12.
    Wassail Dances (1978): II. Andantino (Yorkshire wassail)
    3:02
  13. 13.
    Wassail Dances (1978): III. Vivace (Glouchestershire wassail)
    2:39
  14. 14.
    A Christmas Carol Symphony: I. Vivace (Deck the Halls / Ding dong merrily on high / God rest ye merry gentlemen)
    6:07
  15. 15.
    A Christmas Carol Symphony: II. Andante tranquillo (Away in a manger / Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen)
    4:26
  16. 16.
    A Christmas Carol Symphony: III. Allegretto (Past three o'clock / Now the holly bears a berry / The holly and the ivy)
    2:58
  17. 17.
    A Christmas Carol Symphony: IV. Rondo finale (On Christmas Night / I saw three ships / Christians awake / We wish you a merry Christmas)
    5:29

Credits