Distinctive and Attractive 'Snowcarols' and other Christmas music by William Ferris, admired by PATRIC STANDFORD Cedille    CDR 90000 101

William Ferris died in 2000 at the age of 63, leaving both sadness at his early passing and pleasure and thankfulness for a full and distinguished lifetime of work with his choral singers, and as a composer and arranger. It is appropriate that his Chorale should honour his memory at Christmas time with this collection of seasonal songs which takes its title from a sequence of five substantial choral pieces which deserve to he heard in full to appreciate the extent of their skilful invention and warm treatment of texts, ranging from traditional Anglo-Irish to Christina Rosetti's In the bleak mid winter [listen -- track 12, 0:00-1:16] and See amid the winter snow by Edward Caswall (wrongly spelt in the notes).

In addition there are eight other Christmas pieces, all shorter than those in the Snowcarols cycle, and all offering something distinctive and attractive -- like the long oboe solo that introduces O Mary of Graces. The Introit for the Midnight Mass is heralded by trumpets [listen -- track 1, 0:57-2:02] and there is a simple and poignant setting of the old Polish carol Infant holy, Infant lowly [listen -- track 4, 0:00-0:44].

This is a good tribute to a worthy composer and choral director, and deserves a place in the collections of all choral enthusiasts. But it also provides a wider display of seasonal choral pieces for all choirs that do not already know the composer and his music. One thing is certain: Ferris knew how to make choral music work and be a joy to sing.

For help listening to the sound extracts here, please refer to our questions & answers page.

Record Box is Music & Vision's regular series of shorter CD reviews