Music

Celestial Dawn

Celestial Dawn includes sacred music and some secular offerings.

“Some of the music will be familiar and other pieces are being recorded for the first time; I hope that some of these less well-known pieces might be picked up by other choirs and gain the recognition they deserve.Every piece that we have recorded brings with it a plethora of memories and stories, some of which I will share in these liner notes. It is my hope that this recording might bring you the same joy, peace and reassurance that the music has brought to us over the past two years.” – Anna Lapwood

Signum Classics
SIGCD714
July 2022

Cantique – Nadia Boulanger
Light of the World – John Dankworth
Magnificat – Wayne Marshall
Nunc Dimittis – Wayne Marshall
If With All Your Hearts – Felix Mendelssohn
O Perfect Love – Harry Thacker Burleigh
Ubi Caritas – Roxanna Panufnik
The Seal Lullaby – Eric Whitacre
O That I Once Past Changing Were – Lennox Berkeley
Pie Jesu – Lili Boulanger
Drop, Drop, Slow Tears – Richard Shephard
O For the Wings of a Dove- Felix Mendelssohn arr. Anna Lapwood
Ex Ore Innocentium – John Ireland
You Know Me – Kristina Arakelyan
Ave Maria – Johann Sebastian Bach arr. Charles Gounod
Litany to the Holy Spirit – Ben Ponniah
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say – James Devor
Magnificat (Ely Canticles) – Ben Parry
Nunc Dimittis (Ely Canticles) – Ben Parry

★★★★★ Editors Choice “The singers’ vocal blend is impeccable…The sound is traditional but has an entirely novel flavor…An entirely distinctive release that will be treasured by lovers of English choral singing”– AllMusic.com

“The choir’s sound is fresh and supple, the blend sweet and nicely balanced… All phrased with care and musicality – directional without being mannered… There’s a lot of care and affection in this recording, from the program notes to the choice of works and performances. Apart from being an attractive listen hopefully will also prove a valuable resource for other ensembles”
– Gramophone

★★★★ “Standout tracks include Roxanna Panufnik’s beautiful setting of Ubi caritas…against a lilting piano accompaniment, and a gorgeous set of evening canticles by Wayne Marshall…radiant phrases allow the girls’ fresh young voices to bloom.” – Choir and Organ

“There is much to applaud on this debut recording by the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir…a particular standout in Eric Whitacre’s haunting ‘The Seal Lullaby’” – Cross Rhythms

“The breadth, maturity, and cohesiveness of the overall sound in both unison and harmonic moments is admirable, and the subtlety, intonation, and balance in the solos from the older members in particular stands out as a marked display of musicianship well beyond their years…a credit to Lapwood’s conducting and leadership, and the girls’ determination and hard work…Bravo Pembroke College Girls’ Choir” – Expressive Audio