Aled's Christmas Gift / boy soprano

Recording information: Coombehurst Studio, Kingston University, London; FX YourSpace Studios, London; Greendale Studios, London, England.

Responsible for one of the most iconic and enchanting Christmas songs of the past thirty years, "Walking In The Air," Welsh vocalist Aled Jones is one of the few boy sopranos to make the successful transition to adult classical star. The Radio 2 DJ and Songs Of Praise host has chalked up a rather prolific eight studio albums since his musical comeback in 2000 but it's still the theme tune to the animated version of Raymond Briggs' classic children's book The Snowman that remains his most enduring piece of work. Unafraid to embrace his association with the festive period, Jones returns, for the second time, with an album full of seasonal songs, following 2004's The Christmas Album. Like its predecessor, Aled's Christmas Gift is a collection of simply-arranged and faithful interpretations of traditional hymns and carols which showcase his rich and velvety baritone vocals. Avoiding the trap of lavishing its fourteen tracks with overbearing and intrusive orchestral arrangements, classical crossover producer Ian Tilley (All Angels), instead injects an air of subtlety into proceedings thanks to some tasteful acoustic instrumentation which allows the songs to breathe. Alongside performances of the ubiquitous "Silent Night" and "Away In A Manger," there are also several less-recognisable tracks which helps to differentiate the album from other similar-themed releases. "The Sussex Carol" is a folk-oriented piece written by a 17th Century Irish bishop, "Tua Bethlem Dref" is a traditional Welsh hymn Jones used to sing as a choirboy, while "Mary Did You Know" is the only contemporary composition, originally written by Christian singers Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene in 1984. While critically-acclaimed soprano Hayley Westenra provided the guest vocals on his previous festive release, Aled's Christmas Gift features a duet with someone rather less-known for their vocal prowess, fellow Radio 2 DJ Terry Wogan, whose only previous excursion into musical territory was his 1978 cover of "The Floral Dance." However, their rendition of Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell's "Silver Bells," taken from The Lemon Drop Kid, which could have been a rather misplaced novelty song, actually turns out to be a rather charming and endearing highlight. With its combination of classic seasonal favourites and more personal unfamiliar yuletide songs, Aled's Christmas Gift is a welcome addition to Jones' ever-increasing festive repertoire. ~ Jon O'Brien

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Works Details

Greene, Buddy : Mary, Did You Know?, song

Performers: Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Anna Stokes (Flute); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Elizabeth May (Cello); Aled Jones (Keyboards); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Simon Lole (Organ); Emilia Hughes (Voice); John Robinson (Organ); Simon Beston (Keyboards); Zoë Brown (Keyboards); Fiona Pears (Violin); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Simon Lole (Piano); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Una Palliser (Viola)
Running Time: 3 min. 40 sec.
Written: 1990

Kirkpatrick, William J. : Away in a manger :: Cradle Song) (New English Hymnal 22)

Performers: Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Aled Jones (Piano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Una Palliser (Viola); Emilia Hughes (Voice); John Robinson (Organ); Simon Beston (Piano); Zoë Brown (Piano); Fiona Pears (Violin); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Lole (Piano); Anna Stokes (Flute); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 47 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1885

Holst, Gustav : In the bleak mid-winter

Performers: Rob Aitken (Guitar); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Lole (Piano); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Una Palliser (Viola); Zoë Brown (Piano); Simon Beston (Piano); John Robinson (Organ); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Anna Stokes (Flute); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Fiona Pears (Violin); Aled Jones (Piano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards)
Running Time: 3 min. 27 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Christmas
Written: 1904-1905

Gruber, Franz : Silent Night

Performers: Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Simon Beston (Percussion); Elizabeth May (Cello); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Aled Jones (Percussion); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Piano); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Fiona Pears (Violin); Zoë Brown (Percussion); Simon Lole (Organ); Anna Stokes (Flute); John Robinson (Organ); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Una Palliser (Viola); Simon Lole (Piano); Emilia Hughes (Voice)
Running Time: 3 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Choral
Written: 1818

Goss, John : See Amid the Winter's Snow, for chorus

Performers: Rob Aitken (Guitar); Aled Jones (Percussion); Zoë Brown (Percussion); Fiona Pears (Violin); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Simon Beston (Percussion); Elizabeth May (Cello); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Emilia Hughes (Voice); John Robinson (Organ); Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Lole (Piano); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Una Palliser (Viola); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Anna Stokes (Flute); Katie Flanaghan (Harp)
Running Time: 3 min. 35 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Christmas

Traditional, Christmas : Hajej, nynej, Jezishku (Rocking Carol) (Czech)

Performers: Elizabeth May (Cello); Fiona Pears (Violin); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Simon Lole (Piano); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Anna Stokes (Flute); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Una Palliser (Viola); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Simon Beston (Piano); Simon Lole (Organ); Rob Aitken (Guitar); John Robinson (Organ); Aled Jones (Piano); Zoë Brown (Piano); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards)
Running Time: 2 min. 9 sec.

Rutter, John : What sweeter music

Performers: Rob Aitken (Guitar); Ian Tilley (Piano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Aled Jones (Piano); Fiona Pears (Violin); Zoë Brown (Piano); Simon Beston (Piano); John Robinson (Organ); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Una Palliser (Viola); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Anna Stokes (Flute); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Lole (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 37 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1988

Traditional, Christmas : Sussex Carol ("On Christmas Night")

Performers: Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Lole (Piano); Simon Beston (Keyboards); John Robinson (Organ); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Una Palliser (Viola); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Anna Stokes (Flute); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Elizabeth May (Cello); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Fiona Pears (Violin); Zoë Brown (Keyboards); Aled Jones (Keyboards); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Katie Flanaghan (Harp)
Running Time: 2 min. 51 sec.
Period Time: Post-Romantic
Form: Christmas
Written: by 1892

Davies, Henry Walford : O Little Town of Bethlehem, carol

Performers: Simon Lole (Piano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Piano); Anna Stokes (Flute); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Una Palliser (Viola); Elizabeth May (Cello); Aled Jones (Keyboards); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Simon Lole (Organ); Fiona Pears (Violin); Zoë Brown (Keyboards); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Simon Beston (Keyboards); Rob Aitken (Guitar); John Robinson (Organ)
Running Time: 3 min. 21 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Christmas
Written: circa 1920

Traditional, Christmas : Sans Day Carol

Performers: Ian Tilley (Percussion); Simon Beston (Piano); Zoë Brown (Piano); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Una Palliser (Viola); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Anna Stokes (Flute); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ian Tilley (Piano); John Robinson (Organ); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Aled Jones (Piano); Fiona Pears (Violin); Simon Lole (Piano); Simon Lole (Organ)
Running Time: 2 min. 20 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Form: Christmas

Arthur, Edward : Tua Bethlehem Dref

Performers: Simon Lole (Piano); Simon Lole (Organ); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Fiona Pears (Violin); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Aled Jones (Piano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Anna Stokes (Flute); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); John Robinson (Organ); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Zoë Brown (Piano); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Simon Beston (Piano); Una Palliser (Viola)
Running Time: 2 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Berlioz, Hector : L'enfance du Christ, Op. 25

Performers: Aled Jones (Piano); Simon Lole (Piano); Simon Lole (Organ); Simon Beston (Piano); Anna Stokes (Flute); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Emilia Hughes (Voice); John Robinson (Organ); Una Palliser (Viola); Zoë Brown (Piano); Fiona Pears (Violin); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano); Elizabeth May (Cello); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Piano); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano)
Running Time: 4 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Cantata/Oratorio
Written: 10/1850-07/1854

Livingston, Jay : Silver Bells (for the film The Lemon Drop Kid)

Performers: Aled Jones (Guitar); Wix (Keyboards); Hayley Sanderson (Guitar); John Parricelli (Guitar); Simon Hale (Keyboards); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); John Kelly (Various Instrruments); Terry Wogan (Spoken Vocals)
Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Ray Evans (Lyricist) (1915 - 2007).
Running Time: 3 min. 10 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1951

Traditional, Christmas : The First Nowell (English)

Performers: Fiona Pears (Violin); Aled Jones (Boy Soprano); Anna Stokes (Flute); John Robinson (Organ); Simon Lole (Organ); Zoë Brown (Percussion); Simon Beston (Percussion); Katie Flanaghan (Harp); Charlotte Ashley (Oboe); Rob Aitken (Guitar); Anna Stokes (Recorder); Simon Lole (Piano); Una Palliser (Viola); Elizabeth May (Cello); Emilia Hughes (Voice); Aled Jones (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Piano); Ian Tilley (Percussion); Ian Tilley (Keyboards); Sam Coates (Boy Soprano); Ben Crawley (Boy Soprano)
Running Time: 3 min. 28 sec.
Form: Christmas
Written: by 1823

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