Wolcum Yule
Celtic and British Songs and Carols
Andrew Lawrence-King, Irish harp, cemb psaltery
Anonymous 4

Andrew Lawrence-King’s virtuoso harp joins the voices of Anonymous 4 in a wealth of Yuletide music, favorite and rare, from the British Isles. Juxtaposing pagan and Christian traditions, the program interweaves English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ballads and carols with well-loved pieces by John Tavener (The Lamb), Benjamin Britten, and a newly commissioned work by Peter Maxwell Davies. Andrew Lawrence-King adds special color playing a variety of instruments: psaltery, Baroque harp, and a remarkable Irish “Queen Mary” harp which sounds as if it contains its own peal of heavenly bells.

“Sumptuous Christmas sounds”— (San Francisco Chronicle (concert review)

"Editor's choice" —Gramophone
"10/10"—Classics Today

1.   Awake, and join the cheerful choir—Traditional English [4:09]
2.   Good people all—Traditional Irish [6:05 ]
3.   The seven rejoices of Mary—Traditional Irish  [3:43]
4.   The Lamb John Tavener 3:01]
5.   A Scots Lilt—Anonymous 17th Century [3:33]
6.   Balulalow—Traditional Scottish [3:37]
7.   Balulalow—Richard Rodney Bennett [1:39]
8.   The holly and the ivy—Traditional English [3:14]
9.   The Reel of Tullochgorum—Traditional Scottish [3:45]
10.  I saw three ships—Traditional English [2:54]
11.  A Calendar of Kings—Peter Maxwell Davies [6:02]
12.  Air: Lá fuar geimhreadh—Traditional Irish [4:13]
13.  An teicheadh go hEigipt—Traditional Irish [3:21]
14.  A god, and yet a man?—Geoffrey Burgon [1:25]
15.  Grene growith the holy—Henry VIII [3:51]
16.  Wel, dyma'r borau gorau—Traditional Welsh [3:15]
17.  The Cherry Tree Carol—Traditional English [2:38]
18.  Can wassel Wassail Song—Traditional Cornish [2:48 ]
19.  A New Year Carol—Benjamin Britten [2:14]