New York Polyphony

St. Paul, Minn. — On Friday, Dec. 9, New York Polyphony made their Twin Cities premiere as Classical Minnesota Public Radio presented the vocal ensemble in concert at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. You can hear the concert on air on Friday, December 23 at 9:00 p.m.

Tony Bol, MPR's director of performance programs, credits Classical MPR's Brian Newhouse with bringing New York Polyphony to Minnesota. "They are not yet well known in this community," Bol says, "but everywhere they go, they are highly acclaimed and highly respected."

Performing those works at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church appealed to New York Polyphony. "We do most of our singing in churches, which has been great," Williams says. "We really enjoy the acoustics in which we sing. We like to say it's the fifth member of the band because we really do play the room like a fifth instrument."

Playlist

New York Polyphony has graciously allowed us to offer individual tracks as free downloads. Click the linked titles to download them.

Veni Redemptor Gentium — Andrew Smith (b. 1970)

Beata progenies — Lionel Power (c. 1375 - 1445)

Speciosa facta es — John Dunstable (1380 - 1453)

Flos regalis (c. 1300) — Andrew Smith and Flos regalis from Worcester Fragments

Ave Maria Mater Dei — William Cornysh (d. 1523)

Ave Maris Stella/Noel nouvelet — Andrew Smith

Stella caeli — Walter Lambe (c.1450/51 - 1504)

Veni Emmanuel — arr. Andrew Smith

Medieval English Carols from the Selden and Ritson Manuscripts
Nowell: Out of your sleep
Make we joy now in this fest
Alleluia: A New Work is come on hand
Nowell sing we both all and some

The darkest midnight in December — arr. Craig Phillips (b. 1971)

Away in a manger — arr. Reginald Jacques (1894 - 1969) (adapt. Craig Phillips)

E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come — Paul Manz (1919 - 2009)

I saw three ships — Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)

Adam lay ybounden — Geoffrey Williams (b. 1976)

Gabriel's Message — arr. Craig Phillips

I sing the birth — Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842 - 1900)