Reviews for
GMCD 7103 - In Dulci Jubilo
Festive and Christmas Music
Source: Choir and Organ Issue: December 1995
The idea of reviewing Christmas CDs in August with the temperature in the 80s fills me
with a dread of time, and eternity. When one of these CDs promises Christmas carols played
on trumpet and organ, a frisson of horror reminds me of the mush that will certainly issue
form the loudspeakers in a few weeks' time as I push my trolley round the supermarket.
Not a bit of it! In In Dulci Jubilo, Paul Plunkett and Rudolf Lutz produce such
a variety of timbre, texture and tune that I know I could enjoy this CD at any time to the
year.
From the top down, we hear piccolo trumpet (pitched an octave higher than the normal
instrument), baroque trumpet (Bach's clarino with its slightly unpredictable tuning and
pitching), the normal B flat trumpet, the wider-bored, smoother toned cornet and the
'beautiful and neglected' Flugelhorn (as Vaughan Williams said in notes for his ninth
symphony) both from the brass band and even the Alphorn, of Swiss shepherd fame.
All this accompanied by the remarkabaly fine Kuhn organ of St. Laurenz Church in St.
Gallen, Switzerland. Indeed, at one point, the organist descends from his bench to play a
second Alphorn in duet! The variety of carols arranged and re-arranged on this CD is such
that I can guarantee a few gasps of surprise as you listen. I think my favourite is Ding,
Dong, merrily on high which comes out sounding like a mediaeval estampie.
Donald James
Page revised 03.09.2000
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