Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker release a Christmas album today titled ‘Midwinter’ which opens to an atmospheric In The Bleak Midwinter, a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti…complete with chorals it is the perfect opener:
There are some lesser known songs including Adam lay ybounden, based on Boris Ord’s only published work, the text for which is said to date back to c.1400 and was probably penned by a wandering minstrel. But fear not, for those of you seeking a carol sing-a-long there is plenty of the more familiar including O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Away In A Manger , Silent Night and more.
Josienne’s vocal talents really shine on the English carol Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day as does the classical guitar playing of Ben, the arrangement for which is based on John Gardner’s adaptation. It’s a lovely Christmas album on which they even manage to sneak in some unexpected gypsy jazz on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
50% of all profits will be going to Unicef’s Children of Syria Appeal, helping them provide clean water, clothing and medical care to children in Syria. Read more about their campaign here – www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Emergencies/syrian-arab-republic-syria/