The original version for chorus and eight brass was given by The Bach Choir, rehearsed by Sir David Willcocks and first performed by them with London Brass conducted by Howard Blake in St. Paul’s Cathedral, 13 December 1990.
The first performance of this version for SATB and 5 Brass was given by Sussex Chorus conducted by Neil Jenkins in 2002.
'Holy Mary, Mother Mild' is Macaronic, a verse in two languages, Latin and English, where the Latin acts as a burden to the main poem in English.
'Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose' is a Nativity carol in the Trouvere style comparing the Virgin Mary to a beautiful rose.
'Jesu Son Most Sweet and Dear' is the Virgin's song to the Christ-Child and takes an imaginative leap into the Virgin's experience, portraying tenderness and simplicity.
'Let us Gather Hand in Hand' is thought to be the earliest carol discovered in English, appearing in a Franciscan list of sermon outlines written not later than 1350. The refrain conveys the manner of its performance and the joy of the occasion.
The mediaeval joy in faith finds its best expression in lyrics on the Nativity and on the role of the Virgin Mary. The ideas of unique birth and everlasting triumph over death combine to remove all darkness, so that Hell is no more than a hazard which Our Lady helps us circumvent. Winter and long nights are forgotten in Her magical dance-song, and the Middle Ages' burning sense of Sin itself is lost in ecstatic rejoicing.
13th December 2014 | The Beckenham Chorale directed by Adam Treadway, St. George's Church, Beckenham |
4th December 2010 | Kettering Camerata together with the Camerata Brass, 7.30pm, at Fuller Baptist Church, Gold Street, Kettering |
20th December 2009 | , |
18th December 2009 | Oxford Philomusica and chorus, Sheldonian Theatre Oxford |
14th December 2008 | St Bavo Cathedral Koorschool Choir Haarlem, directed by Gilles Michels, Haarlem,Holland |