Permeating the whole volume is an approachability that explains Chilcott's popularity with choirs and audiences. The vocal writing displays a singer's understanding of what is possible (and grateful to sing), and never more so than in the several pieces written for youth choirs where the tenors, for example, are rarely asked to sing above F. * Christopher Field, Music Teacher, Feb 05 *
The back cover blurb's description of the music as 'fresh, arrestingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted' is certainly on the mark. Chilcott is a gifted melodist, and his peculiarly touching brand of gentle sentimentality is deployed to good effect in several of the numbers . . . But these miscellaneous carols are, one presumes, not intended to be heard one after another - programmed individually, in the right context, they will almost unfailingly be effective . . . Perhaps the best number, however, is one of the simplest - 'The Shepherd's Carol', written for King's College Cambridge, a deceptively simple achievement in its unforced, affecting lyricism. None of the pieces in the volume makes great technical demands on either singers or accompanist; the settings are in the main SATB, with some modest splitting of parts. * Matthew Greenall, The Singer, December 2004 *
All but two of these nine carols have been previously published (and are still available separately), but any choir that buys this collection for one or two pieces is likely to go on and sing them all: Chilcott writes the sort of music that it is difficult not to like. The book represents almost all the mixed-voice carols he has written over the past ten years. All are characterised by unerring craftsmanship, attractively mobile rhythms sometimes generating intriguing textures, simple tunes, and approachable harmonies - a gift to both choirs and audiences . . . Chilcott's version of the 'Coventry Carol' is a different matter. He preserves the traditional spare texture in the verse but alternates it with richer, faintly Warlock-like harmonies in the refrains. The result is a song that has not only an attractive surface but also a really distinct musical personality. * Peter Dale, Choir and Organ Nov 04 *
