CD Cover Art of While Shepherds Watched

Hyperion CDA66942 (now on Helios CDH55325)
Released Released November 1999 (re-released 29 September 2008)

While Shepherds Watched
Christmas music from English parish churches, 1740–1830
Philippa Hyde Soprano
Claire Tomlin Soprano
Timothy Brown Counter-tenor
Jennie Cassidy Alto
Patrick McCarthy Tenor
Adrian Peacock Bass
Psalmody, The Parley of Instruments
Peter Holman director
This, the first disc that Tim recorded with Peter Holman and The Parley of Instruments, is a collection of solo and choral Christmas anthems and Psalmody in arrangements by provincial composers from the late-Georgian period in England. On it, Tim sings an unusual though charming version of the classic carol 'While shepherds watched', composed by an associate of G.F.Handel's, John Christopher Smith. It is also known as 'The Foundling's Hymn', written for use in the chapel of the old ' Foundling Hospital' for the welfare of orphaned young children in London, to which Handel was a most generous benefactor.
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Track list

  1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night [4:35]
    Michael Beesly of Blewbury, Oxfordshire (b.1700)
    Choir and orchestra
  2. Let an anthem of praise [2:30]
    Anon, arr. Caleb Ashworth of Daventry (1722-1775)
    Choir and bassoon
  3. While shepherds watched their flocks by night [3:06]
    J.C.Smith (1712-1795) arr. John arnold of Gt. Warley, Essex (c1720-1792)
    TB, flute, cello and harpsichord
  4. Pastorale [3:35]
    Pieter Helendaal (1721-1799)
    Strings, Harpsichord, organ
  5. Hark! how all the welkin rings [6:24]
    Anon, arr. Thomas Butts
    Choir and Continuo
  6. Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber [4:08]
    Anon, arr. Thomas Butts
    PH, cello and hapsichord
  7. As shepherds watched their fleecy care [6:15]
    Joseph Key of Nuneaton (d.1784)
    PH, CT, JC, PMcC, choir and orchestra
  8. Hark! the herald angels sing [3:34]
    Samuel Arnold (1740-1802)
    CT, JC, AP and organ
  9. While shepherds watched their flocks by night [5:04]
    Thomas Clark of Canterbury (1775-1859)
    Choir and Orchestra
  10. Hark! the herald angels sing [4:08]
    G.F.Handel arr. E.Miller of DOncaster (1735-1807)
    Choir and Continuo
  11. There were shepherds abiding in the field [3:22]
    Thomas Jarman of Northants (1776-1861)
    CT, PMcC, AP and orchestra
  12. Rondo [6:18]
    Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)
    Piano
  13. Angels from the realms of glory [5:24]
    William Matthews of Nottingham (1759-1830)
    JC, AP, choir and orchestra
  14. Hymning seraphs wake the morning [3:01]
    G.F.Handel, arr. Thomas Taylor
    PMc, piano
  15. While shepherds watched their flocks by night [4:48]
    John Foster of High Green, Yorkshire (1762-1822)
    Choir and orchestra