FCMG London Children’s Choir -
Bethlehem Down

Christmas Carol Recording

Number 13 in the Classical Charts, BBC Music Magazine, March 2005

"...graceful, refined, spontaneous and impeccably prepared.  I was truly impressed."
The Gramophone, January 2005

"...characterised by the choir's trademark freshness of timbre and clear, natural enunciation ... alert and sensitive performances."
BBC Music Magazine, December 2004

"The mix is both contemplative and joyous, the young voices well projected and co-ordinated, while keeping their freshness, spontaneity and sense of seasonal wonder."
The Daily Telegraph, 4 December 2004

See more reviews of this CD

You can listen to some excerpts on our Hear Us Sing page, or on ClassicFM (where it was CD of the Week for Christmas week 2004)

Rutter - Deck the hall; The holly and the ivy; Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
Britten - The birds; Corpus Christi carol; King Herod and the cock;
Carter - A Maiden most gentle; Sweet was the song the Virgin sang; Mistletoe carol;
Warlock - Balulalow; The first mercy;
Holst - A Babe is born; Now let us sing; Jesu, thou the Virgin‑born; Salvator mundi natus est; Bethlehem Down; Lullay my liking;
Rossiter - Sussex Carol *; The angel Gabriel;
Hadley - I sing of a maiden;
Slessor - De Virgin Mary had a baby boy;
Head - Star candles

* Philip Langridge (tenor). John Evanson (organ), Finchley Children’s Music Group, Grace Rossiter.

"This month Naxos is pleased to present a selection of quintessentially British Christmas carols performed by the superb Finchley Children’s Music Group, the most celebrated children’s choir of its kind. 28 pence from the sale of every disc sold will go towards the charity Hope for Children."

Hope for Children (www.hope4c.org) was founded in 1994, the International Year of the Family, to assist Handicapped, Orphaned, Poor and Exploited Children in developing countries and the UK.   HOPEs mission is to improve the quality of life and to advance the rights of children, to bring about change for good on behalf of children and families, and to encourage them to participate in processes which enhance their equality, self-reliance and long-term sustainable development.  Wherever possible it tries to provide practical support, allowing children to grow up within their own families and communities.

In this, HOPEs 10^th anniversary year, many initiatives have been launched to raise the awareness of its work and to seek contributors to its “10x10 Challenge” launched at 10 Downing Street by Cherie Booth QC on 20th July 2004.   HOPE currently supports schemes in 10 countries that help alleviate the suffering of children on the street.  It works in partnership with local organisations to provide a lifeline for children, away from a life of begging and abuse.  Through the involvement of street educators and relief centres, it aims to provide assistance with a meal, a place to rest and wash, and support through counselling and a loving environment.  A regular donation of £10 for 10 months can provide nutritious meals, or education, for a street child for a whole year.