A delightful set of three Christmas carols expertly adapted by Philip Doe. This suite of three pieces opens with Christmas Day, a dainty and light opening that shows the more delicate aspects of brass playing. The centre piece is a new version of The Coventry Carol, which open with a first verse rendition for quartet before developing a more baroque-style treatment that sits over an ostinato bass line. The movement reaches its climax with flourishes from the cornets leading to a rendition of the carol at fortissimo, and treated with slightly altered, harmonies before coming to rest with the opening quartet delivering the tierce de Picardie. The final movement is I Saw Three Ships, with handy interjections from several other carols, making a rousing climax to a enjoyable set of three Christmas portraits. Duration: 7.00
