THE FIRST Christmas Album in 10 years is being released on a recently founded record label by the Salisbury Cathedral which features a number of carols with Salisbury links.
Salisbury Christmas contains arrangements by the late Sir David Willcocks, organist at Salisbury Cathedral in the 1940s, and subsequently director of the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, famous for Carols from King’s on BBC television and radio each Christmas Eve.
Herbert Howells, another former organist, is represented in the beautiful carol, Sing lullaby along with a new award-winning work, Toccata on the Advent hymn ‘Wachet auf’, by David Halls, the Cathedral’s current director of music.
Director of Music, David Halls, said: “Christmas is a very special time of year at the cathedral, and we welcome thousands of worshippers and concert-goers over this very busy period.
"The selection of works on this album incorporates several old and well-known Christmas carols as well as newer works, and I’m delighted that, through this new album, we can share the joy of Christmas from Salisbury Cathedral with people at home.”
The new album also features the work of women composers including the award-winning composer Errollyn Wallen who was named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2018. Errollyn was commissioned by Salisbury Cathedral Choir to write Salisbury Carol which was first performed in the cathedral on December 22, 2022 as a tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In keeping with the Salisbury theme, the cover image has been supplied by photographer and ICU consultant Martin Cook.
For more information, visit salisburycathedral.org.uk
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