TENET Vocal Artists & Jolle Greenleaf - Love Enfolds Thee Round (2020) [Hi-Res]

TENET Vocal Artists, NYC’s prëeminent early music ensemble, releases a Christmas disc of music spanning medieval to modern day repertoire. TENET’s pristine, one-on-a-part singing lends itself well to both well-known and rarely heard songs and carols featured in this recording. New compositions and fresh arrangements make Love Enfolds Thee Round a stand-out among holiday recordings. Each member of the ensemble is well featured, creating an intimate sound-world to celebrate the holiday season.

TENET Vocal Artists created this disc as a gift to its loyal audience of supporters during a time of increased isolation due to the pandemic. Although much of the repertoire featured falls outside the purview of “early music,” the disc well represents the singers’ collective specialties in the music of the Anglican tradition. In fact, the works on this recording could easily serve as selections from a Lessons and Carols service of today.

Representing British masters from the last century, TENET includes some of the best-known works from the Christmas canon including Peter Warlock’s “Bethlehem Down,” Herbert Howells’ “A Spotless Rose,” and Hubert Parry’s “Welcome Yule.” David Willcocks, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Gustav Holst also make appearances with rarely heard gems and arrangements of medieval tunes.

Early compositions that have become known as traditional Christmas works include Francis Cutting’s “Greensleeves,” Praetorius’ “Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen,” and Bach famous chorale, “O Jesulein süß.” The hauntingly beautiful 14th Century motet, “Veni mater gracie/Dou way Robin” tells of Mary’s immaculate conception in the lead voice all the while shooing away a pesky Robin who might wake the Christ child in the counter melody using an early form of ground bass.

TENET is very fortunate to have among its cast accomplished singer, composer, and arranger Jonathan Woody, who provided beautiful arrangements for two classic tunes: “Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow” and “Coventry Carol.” He imbued these well-known classics with his fresh, contemporary voice. Woody also composed a new version of “What Child is This” (along with the transition from Greensleeves) for bass voice and lute. His rendition mixes his own knowledge of early music style and vocal practices with contemporary harmonies, showing off the versatility of lutenist Hank Heijink.

TENET fans will recognize the voices of our singers as they perform one-on-a-part; the crystalline timbres of artistic director Jolle Greenleaf and Molly Quinn, sopranos, the warm alto of Virginia Warnken Kelsey, versatile and sweet-toned tenor Stephen Sands, and rich and enveloping bass-baritones Charles Wesley Evans and Jonathan Woody. Hank Heijink’s accompanying prowess is on full display, enhancing the carols throughout the recording.

“Love Enfolds Thee Round” closes with a charming contemporary work by composer Norman dello Joio and writer Anna Elizabeth Bennett, “Hush Thee, Princeling” (also known as “Lullaby for the Christ Child”), whose last line of the first poetic verse serves as the disc’s title.