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Cecily Beer & the Chamber Orchestra of London, arranged and produced by Thomas Hewitt Jones. Conducted by Rupert Gough

SUSSEX CAROL, SILENT NIGHT, BELL CAROL

Thomas Hewitt Jones says, ‘It was a pleasure to arrange and produce these three new Christmas arrangements for the talented Cecily Beer. To accompany Cecily, I brought in players from the Chamber Orchestra of London with whom I have recorded many media projects, and Rupert Gough conducted the session at the chapel of Royal Holloway, University of London in September 2024. We are delighted that Vivum Music Ltd. is releasing this EP which we hope will showcase Cecily’s beautiful harp playing as well as offering a new take on these famous seasonal tunes.’

Cecily Beer says, ‘This new music from Thomas Hewitt-Jones has been the biggest joy to learn and record. We had both agreed we wanted something that sparkled but with familiar melodies which people know and love. For me, the upbeat tracks, Sussex Carol and Bell Carol, are exactly what I want to be listening to while dancing around my kitchen making Christmas lunch; while the final track, Silent Night, has the perfect balance of joy that comes with this sublime new string arrangement, and nostalgia for a melody we all know and love so well.’

Sussex Carol

A rippling harp introduces the famous Christmas tune with a ‘spinning wheel’ of broken chords with forward motion and delicate emotion. The intensity builds with interplay between harp soloist and strings during thematic development which propels the piece towards a satisfying conclusion.

Silent Night

This slow, reflective setting features a rippling version of the melody in the harp underpinned by warm, expressive strings. As the track unfolds a relaxed calmness expands to a quietly emotional feel as we modulate up a tone, leading us gently yet optimistically forward as we approach Christmas.

Bell Carol

The melody of Bell Carol comes from the song “Shchedryk” written by the Ukrainian composer Mylola Leontovych in 1914. We hope this new arrangement for harp and strings can be enjoyed by a wide audience during this challenging time globally.

Released 10 November on the Vivum Music Label. Available on AppleMusic, Spotify and other streaming platforms

(Image credit: A P Wilding)

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Award-winning British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones, who has an unashamed love for Christmas and Christmas music, has released a selection of new music for the festive season – from carols for choirs to a dramatic retelling of the Christmas Story, featuring Stephen Fry. Plus a few “Christmas crackers” to entertain and delight…..

Onward We Go

A tuneful, warm and nostalgic tribute to the Christmas story, scored for the children’s touchingly young voices with piano, electric bass and instrumentalists. Words by Gordon Giles, Canon of Rochester Cathedral. Performed by the children’s choir of St Stephen’s Church, Dulwich, directed by Caroline Lenton-Ward. Sheet music available from Stainer & Bell.

The Christmas Story, narrated by Stephen Fry

A dramatic orchestral retelling of the Christmas Story, as told by the Gospel of Luke, narrated by acclaimed actor, broadcaster, comedian, presenter, writer and national treasure Stephen Fry, with the Scottish Session Orchestra and Choristers of St Martin-in-the-Fields, directed by Andrew Earis. Score published by Stainer & Bell.

The Christmas Story will be broadcast on ClassicFM at 6.45pm on Christmas Eve.

The Funny Snowman

From the composer who brought us TikTok sensation ‘Funny Song’, comes another catchy, toe-tapping tune. ‘The Funny Snowman’ has a wonderfully nostalgic vibe, with vocals reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, a “tap dance” section worthy of Morecombe and Wise, and memorable, singalong lyrics which are sure to bring Christmas cheer and merriment. Words by Gordon Giles, Canon of Rochester Cathedral, sung by Freddie Benedict.

Christmas Delivery

Thomas Hewitt Jones says, ‘I am traditionally a last-minute present buyer and wrapper, and the couple of days before Christmas in my family have often been appropriately fraught. I wanted to write an unashamedly light-hearted orchestral encore in the same vein as the orchestral pops of composers such as Leroy Anderson – depicting the mad Christmas rush leading up to the 25th each December. If you listen carefully, you can hear Santa in his sleigh in the sky above, dashing through snowy skies, as the warmth of Christmas is evident to the end.‘

Played by the Scottish Session Orchestra

Camel Carol

The three Magi defer to their trusty steeds in Thomas Hewitt Jones’s hilarious Camel Carol – a perfect offering for choirs this Christmas. Scored for SATB voices and organ, Camel Carol is a light-hearted yet theologically serious take on the visit of the Three Wise Men with their precious gifts, from a trio of grumpy yet not unperspicacious dromedaries. Words by Gordon Giles, Canon of Rochester Cathedral. Sheet music available from Stainer & Bell.

A Child’s Christmas

A collection of orchestral music for Christmas by British composers, curated by Philip Lane, ‘the doyen of light music’ (Gramophone), expertly played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Works by Victor Hely-Hutchinson, Gordon Thornett, Adam Saunders, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Roy Moore, Bryan Kelly, John Lanchbery, and Philip Lane. Performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Barry Wordsworth & Gavin Sutherland and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Julian Bigg

Released by Heritage Records and available on CD and via streaming.

And finally…..

Crazy Frog Does Funny Song

Funny Song has become a viral sensation with over 14 billion streams on TikTok (it also appears in the new ABRSM Grade 2 cello syllabus!). In its latest incarnation, Crazy Frog, who spawned a worldwide hit single in 2003, and numerous spin offs, does Funny Song. The video has enjoyed almost 6 million views to date since it was launched a couple of weeks ago.

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ONWARD WE GO

Music by Thomas Hewitt Jones set to words by Canon Gordon Giles

The Children’s choir of St Stephen’s, Dulwich

Caroline Lenton-Ward, conductor, with Oliver Lallemant (piano), Jill Valentine (viola), Jernej Albreht (clarinet), Joe Downard (bass guitar) and Simon Hewitt Jones (violin)

Release date: 2 November

Label: Vivum Music Ltd

The Children’s choir of St Stephen’s, Dulwich conducted by Caroline Lenton-Ward, sing this new nativity carol by Thomas Hewitt Jones with words by Gordon Giles. Written as a tuneful, warm and nostalgic tribute to the Christmas story, Onward We Go is scored for the children’s touchingly young voices with piano, electric bass and instrumentalists. The carol may be sung in procession in church or as part of a nativity play.

Thomas Hewitt Jones says “I have great fondness for St Stephen’s Dulwich, which played an important part in my formative musical education, and it is extremely fulfilling to write music for them and to see the next generations of young singers coming through.”

Caroline Lenton-Ward says, “The Choristers were delighted to record and film ‘Onward We Go’ by Thomas Hewitt Jones, and enjoyed every second of the process and behaved like true professionals! Many of them are from the Kingswood Estate, a Southwark Council Housing Estate with very high levels of deprivation and a very high diversity of ethnic backgrounds. There is a wide ethnic, social, and religious mix, including Muslim twins who sing at the Sunday eucharist, and several choristers with special educational needs. The choir offers a safe space for children to sing and be creative, which is good for wellbeing as well as providing a musical education, which is often very poorly provided in schools due to funding cuts. Judging by the uptake so far, St Stephen’s seems to be filling this gap.”

Canon Gordon Giles says, “This carol was written in Rochester in the summer of 2023, to a tune that Thomas had more or less written.  Thus the text evolved with the music, which is a delightful way of collaborating.  The theme is that of children singing on their way to visit the manger, a happy band of little pilgrims wanting to show the new born king their love and to worship him. Their gift is simply to offer love. As the song progresses they draw nearer, passing the shepherds seeing the angels’ light, and the Kings (Magi) with their gifts, all of which are offered to Christ as loving tribute.  After these three journeying verses, the children have arrived, and find that by bringing love, it is in fact the infant Christ who has called them so that he can show them his love.  In giving they receive.  This is the cause of faith, hope and joy which has called young and old into his kingly presence today, just as it always has done.  It is the core of Christmas, that we give gifts of love, because we have received love.”

Onward We Go is released on the major streaming platforms. The sheet music, published by Stainer & Bell, is available in both printed and digital formats https://stainer.co.uk/shop/cn72/