It might seem odd singing Christmas Carols in July but that’s just how the children and adults of St Mary’s Priory Church Choir spent two days earlier this year.
The result - Born is the King of Israel!, a CD of 18 Christmas Carols - is a mix of tradition congregational carols and a blend of new and not-so-new carols arranged for the choir.
The choir in festive mood
“We were often asked if we’d thought of recording a CD of Carols,” said Tim Pratt, director of music at St Mary’s. “This year we decided to take up the challenge, although it did seem rather odd recording Christmas music in the middle of July.”
The CD, produced by Priory Records, Britain’s premier church music label, includes favourites such as Once in Royal David’s City and O Little Town of Bethlehem as well as choral works including The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and On to Bethlem, translated from Welsh and arranged by Meirion Wyn Jones, a former sub-organist at St Mary’s.
Born is the King of Israel!
The CD retails for £8.50 and is available from St Mary’s and the Tithe Barn, Abergavenny or by sending a postal order or cheque made payable to St Mary’s Priory Church, for £10 (to include post and packing) to Christmas Carols, St Mary’s Vicarage, Monk Street, Abergavenny NP7 5TB.
To listen to the choir singing one of the tracks from the CD click here