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The Sacred Flame - Cambridge Singers   

I'll be honest, my mental image of the Cambridge Singers is of rather heavy handed singing, suitable for John Rutter's jolly carols, but not exactly competition for the Sixteen. However in this collection of Renaissance and Baroque they have proved they can do subtlety too. The Monteverdi pieces bounce along with just enough lightness. There's a wonderful range of the best music here. Gesualdo's O vos omnes, for example, is full of 'he can't do that!' moments - it's electrifying. Buxtehude's chunky and jubilant Magnificat adds a little light relief among the exquisite likes of Victoria and Josquin Desprez... and it runs through neatly through Schütz to the (relatively) trendy 'new' music of Mr Bach.

All in all a great collection.

CDs by St John’s College, Cambridge

The second of the great Cambridge college choirs, alongside King's, which rank with any of the superb cathedral choirs. At one time John's had a reputation for being a little plodding compared with King's, but these days, they're on top form.

Christmas Proclamation - St. John's College, Cambridge.  

Here is a chance to hear Tavener at his best. This incredible value for money CD (at the last check only £4.99 in the UK) includes his two best-known pieces, the stunning The Lamb, as featured in the recent Orange mobile phone TV ads, and Song for Athene, which was used at Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral. But there's plenty more too - try, for example, Funeral Ikos - it's a wonderful CD, with a thoughtful performance from the choir of St. John's College, Cambridge. Click on a ‘See at’ button to hear a number of samples.

God Is With Us: Christmas Proclamation, Song For Athene, The Lamb

The Tiger, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, Funeral Ikos, Two Hymns To The Mother Of God: Hymn To The Mother Of God. Hymn For The Dormition Of The Mother Of God, Love Bade Me Welcome, As One Who Has Slept, The Lord's Prayer

Svyati 'O Holy One'

Requiem

St John's Cambridge give an excellent interpretation of Howells' Requiem, and throw in a Mag & Nunc (St Pauls), a Communion service (Collegium Regale), various organ pieces and one of Howell's most delightful anthems, the very moving Like As the Hart. Not only this, but it's a bargain price CD.

Fear and Rejoice, O People

The best collection of modernish carols we've seen in a while, with a good mix of really top notch numbers, from the moving Howells Sing Lullaby that opens the disc to Tavener's hypnotic A Hymn to the Mother of God at the end. Generally the performances from St John's College Cambridge under Christopher Robinson are excellent, though the solo trebles are perhaps lacking in a little welly. I was also a little puzzled by the gaps at the ends of lines in Vaughan Williams' The truth sent from above which aren't in the music and John's doesn't have the acoustic to cover them. The inevitable Rutter is one of his most subtle, There is a flower. There are two of Robinson's own carols - I preferred his traditional Hereford Carol, though Fear and rejoice is interesting. Two lesser known treats are Geraint Lewis's Howells-like A little hymn to Mary and Arthur Oldham's Remember, O thou man, which has become one of my favourite choir carols. There's also, slightly puzzlingly, a Magnificat - but it is Dyson's haunting setting in F, so forgivable. Overall a brilliant addition to your carol collection.