I Look from Afar

Music for Advent and Christmas

Superb CD from The Choirs of Hurstpierpoint College

Directed by Neil Matthews, created and produced by the students of Hurstpierpoint College
(scroll down the page to listen to selections from the cd)

In October 2009 during three 5-hour recording sessions, the Choirs of Hurstpierpoint College made well over one hundred 'takes' of music for Advent and Christmas in the College Chapel.

Choral music, particularly during the Advent season, is an important part of the College’s life and both pupils and staff wanted to preserve some of the choirs’ favourite music on CD.

What you will hear is a glorious movement from West to East, from darkness to light symbolised so richly by this wonderful music. From the opening solo in a darkened west end of the Chapel to the rousing conclusion of the CD - a recording of the entire school singing O come, all ye faithful - the sound is full of vitality, youthfulness and enthusiasm.

This youthfulness and enthusiasm is not just evident in the recorded sound, but has been present in every facet of this CD’s production. The recording has been produced by Alex Gatton in the Upper Sixth who was ably assisted by engineers George Bruce (Upper Sixth) and Tom Taylor (Lower Sixth). Alex also edited and mastered the CD and was completely in charge of all post production. The remarkable pencil drawing of the Chapel on the front cover (and on the CD itself) was drawn especially for the CD by Miranda Holliday (Fifth Form) and the beautiful back cover image, which is detail from sculptures in the Chapel Reredos, was painted by Sam Cox (Upper Sixth).

All of these images were drawn together by Oliver Howard (Remove) who designed and typeset the covers and insert booklet, preparing everything for the final print run – the only aspect of production that was out-sourced.

Many pupils gave freely of their time, energy and talent to create this cd; this commitment to the common good is one of the characteristics that is the hallmark of Hurst.

This superb cd is available for £10 or £15 for two (+£2 p&p). To print out your postal order form, click here:

To listen to excerpts from some of the music on the cd, please click on the arrow to the right of the name.

1	O come, O come Emmanuel	15th Century French Melody
2	Matin Responsory	G P Palestrina
3	The Advent Prose	Richard Lloyd
4	Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen	Johannes Brahms
5	People, look East	Christopher Steel
6	Adam lay ybounden	Boris Ord
7	There is no rose of such virtue	Graham J Ellis
8	Benedictus in B flat	Charles Villiers Stanford
9	Mary’s Magnificat	Andrew Carter
10	Nativity Carol	John Rutter
11	Wachet Auf!	J S Bach
12	What Sweeter Music?	John Rutter
13	O come, all ye faithful	Melody by J F Wade