‘Joy to World,’ a holiday disc from Chanticleer, arrives Oct. 31 on Delos

The early music vocal group whose name is synonymous with the Yuletide has recorded a new holiday disc.

Ahead of its annual tour, the San Francisco-based ensemble Chanticleer offers what it calls “a truly sublime holiday listening experience” with “Joy to the World,” out Oct. 31. It’s the group’s debut release on the Delos label. Chanticleer returns for its annual Chicago residency, with a SCP Featured Concert on Dec. 9 at Orchestra Hall.

Famed for its “accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, of color and swagger of style,” writes the Boston Globe, the Grammy-winning Chanticleer blends tradition with innovation, combining Renaissance motets and fresh arrangements of classic carols with contemporary works, including two new commissions from Joanna Marsh, a British composer of choral and orchestral music. Showcasing the ensemble’s extraordinary ability to move seamlessly and expertly between styles, “Joy to the World” evokes a wintertime world of magic, light and wonder.

The disc consists of traditional Christmas carols and new works by Lowell Mason, Sarah Quartel, Michael Praetorius, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Cristóbal de Morales, Henry Gauntlett, John Jacob Niles, Steven Sametz, John Francis Wade, Franz Xaver Gruber and Richard Rodgers.

“The ongoing rejuvenation of Delos, our flagship American label, requires collaboration with exceptional artists. So we are particularly thrilled to develop a partnership with Chanticleer, who I’ve followed and admired for as long as I can remember, said Charles Adriaenssen, founder and president of Outhere Music, independent producers of classical and contemporary music. ”This legendary ensemble has earned rightful acclaim for its unrelenting commitment to quality and landmark interpretations. We’re proud to help bring their talent to the wider public and welcome them to the Outhere Music family.

"On ’Joy to the World,’ we pay homage to the centuries-old tradition of Christmas choral music by singing motets composed by some of the finest Renaissance composers: Michael Praetorius, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Cristóbal de Morales, said Tim Keeler, music director of Chanticleer. "We also include many timeless Christmas carols — familiar tunes with words that resonate across generations. However, since this is Chanticleer, we bring a new perspective to each one.

The disc features seven new arrangements of holiday favorites: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by vocal jazz expert Amanda Taylor; “Ding, Dong, Merrily on High” and “Joy to the World” by Chanticleer’s longest-tenured member, countertenor Adam Brett Ward; “Good King Wenceslas/Little Girl Blue,” “Once in Royal David’s City,” and “Silent Night” by Chanticleer’s own vocal jazz star, bass-baritone Jared Graveley, and “I Wonder as I Wander,” arranged by Keeler. Keeler also has arranged a little-known Appalachian folk tune, “And the Trees Do Moan.”

Along with carols, the album showcases several contemporary works sure to become Christmas favorites. Composers Sarah Quartel and Steven Sametz contribute two winning works: “This Endris Night” and “A Christmas Fanfare (Angelus ad Virginem).”

Finally, Joanna Marsh completes Chanticleer’s exploration of winter and the Christmas season with two brand-new commissions, “Hands and the Hour” and “Arrival at the Lantern Festival.” They were written for Chanticleer and its friends in the Stockholm-based choir Zero8. The works were inspired by Marsh’s 2019 composition “In Winter’s House,” which has become a favorite of both groups.

Asked to compose a companion piece, Marsh responded with “Hands and the Hour” and “Arrival at the Lantern Festival,” each setting a newly commissioned poem by Jane Draycott. The resulting triple play is full of wintertime magic, light and wonder.

Tracklisting

1. "Joy to the World" by Lowell Mason (1792-1872), arr. Adam Brett Ward
2. "This Endris Night" by Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)
3. "Rorate Caeli "by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
4. "O Magnum Mysterium" by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
5. "Quem Vidistis Pastores" by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
6. "Ecce Virgo Concipiet" by Cristóbal de Morales (c. 1500-1553)
7. "Once in Royal David’s City" by Henry Gauntlett (1805-1876), arr. Jared Graveley
8. "I Wonder as I Wander" by John Jacob Niles (1892-1980), arr. Tim Keeler
9. "A Christmas Fanfare (Angelus ad Virginem)" by Steven Sametz (b. 1954)
10. "Ding Dong Merrily on High," traditional, arr. Adam Brett Ward
11. "Good King Wenceslas/Little Girl Blue," traditional and Richard Rodgers (1902-1979), arr. Jared Graveley
12. "And the Trees Do Moan," traditional, arr. Tim Keeler
13. "Hands and the Hour" (from “Winter’s Garland”) by Joanna Marsh (b. 1970)
14. "Arrival at the Lantern Festival" (from “Winter’s Garland”) by Joanna Marsh
15. "In Winter’s House" (from “Winter’s Garland”) by Joanna Marsh
16. "O, Come, All Ye Faithful" by John Francis Wade (1711-1786), arr. Amanda Taylor
17. "Silent Night" by Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), arr. Jared Graveley