A Deep but Dazzling Darkness Apollo5

• Dobrinka Tabakova (b. 1980):
• 1 Tabakova: Good-will to Men and Peace on Earth 03:00
• Jacob Handl (1550 - 1591):
• 2 Handl: Omnes de Saba venient 01:48
• William Byrd (1543 - 1623):
• 3 Byrd: Laetentur coeli 03:28
• Traditional:
• 4 Traditional: The Angel Gabriel (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Fraser Wilson) 03:19
• 5 Traditional: Noël nouvelet (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Pietro Battiston) 03:33
• 6 Traditional: Les anges dans nos campagnes (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by François-August Gevaert and Samuel Greatheed) 02:27
• 7 Traditional: Past Three a Clock (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Charles Wood) 02:25
• 8 Traditional: Lute-book Lullaby (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by William Ballet and Geoffrey Shaw) 02:41
• 9 Traditional: The Coventry Carol (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Barnaby Smith) 03:20
• John Jacob Niles (1892 - 1980):
• 10 Niles: I Wonder as I Wander (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by John Rutter) 03:32
• Toby Young (b. 1990):
• 11 Young: The Night 03:24
• Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983):
• 12 Howells: A spotless Rose 03:21
• James Bassi (b. 1961):
• 13 Bassi: Quem pastores laudavere 04:19
• Toby Young:
• 14 Young: The Owl 02:12
• William Walton (1902 - 1983):
• 15 Walton: Make We Joy Now in this Fest 03:47
• Total Runtime 46:36

Info for A Deep but Dazzling Darkness

A Deep But Dazzling Darkness…

…conjures up the wonder of Winter’s changing landscape through the very best contemporary choral writing for the festive season. As an owl sees through the night, Apollo5’s one to a part “exceptionally beautiful singing” (Classic FM), illuminates the magical quality of dark winter nights whilst lending crystalline clarity to the rarely heard consort performances of each piece.

The chosen music speaks of a time of rejoicing and celebrating with the sharing of gifts, as brought by the visitors from Sheba. The miracle of birth, central to the Christmas story, is hailed with wonder and elation. The music evokes the magical quality of dark winter nights and suggests that through them we can see God more clearly.

Apollo5

Apollo5
The international award-winning British vocal ensemble Apollo5 delights audiences with versatile and engaging performances on the concert platform, singing repertoire ranging from renaissance, classical and contemporary choral music to folk, jazz and pop.

Frequently performing in their home city of London they have sung in venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Kings Place (London A Cappella Festival), the Barbican, the Houses of Parliament and Wembley Arena. They regularly give concerts at their home in the heart of the City of London, the Gresham Centre.

As well as concerts across the UK Apollo5 has enjoyed giving performances internationally. Last season the five outstanding vocalists undertook a month-long debut tour of the USA and in 2016 they made their south Asian debut, taking part in the Taipei International Choral Festival. Over the last two years they have given performances in Italy, Germany, Holland and France. This season includes international performances in France (Via Aeterna Music Festival), Poland (for La Folle Journée) and a collaboration with the Academy of Ancient Music.

Apollo5 is part of the VCM Foundation, and leads its innovative education programme aiming to inspire creativity through music. Working alongside vocal ensemble VOCES8 and Paul Smith the programme reaches 40,000 young people annually in the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, the USA and Asia. The Foundation has its home at the Gresham Centre, at St Anne and St Agnes Church. In partnership with the Diocese of London, VCM has established a hub for excellence in education, outreach and the performance of vocal music. Last season saw the first Gresham Centre Festival in which the group performed with VOCES8 and the VOCES8 Scholars.

Apollo5 leads regular workshops, masterclasses, and a children’s concert series at the Gresham Centre, as well as longer term projects and residency programmes. The group oversees an extensive outreach project called the Open Mind Programme in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. Now in its third year, the Open Mind Programme has received support from Arts Council England, The Merchant Taylors’ Company and the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. The education programme is also supported by Holman Fenwick Willan and the Ernest Cook Trust.

Apollo5 has released albums with VCM Records, including “The Spirit Like a Dove”, music by Josquin des Prez performed with the Ingenium Ensemble which was Number 4 in the UK Classical Chart, and “With a Song in my Heart”, an album of folk, jazz and pop. Also released is “Journey” on the Edition Peters Sounds label featuring the group with former King’s Singer Paul Phoenix. A new album “O Radiant Dawn”, which explores the human journey through birth, love, struggle, the end of life and reflection will be released in May 2019.

Apollo5 will start to publish its musical arrangements with Edition Peters this year.

This album contains no booklet.