THE GREATEST POEMS, THE FINEST VOICES, GLORIOUS MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASED: 17th November 2014
BRITISH ACTING ROYALTY
JOANNA LUMLEY, STEPHEN TOMPKINSON,
HERMIONE NORRIS AND JIM BROADBENT
GIVE THE MAGICAL GIFT OF CHRISTMAS POETRY
SHAKESPEARE, BRONTË, WORDSWORTH, BLAKE AND BETJEMAN’S POEMS SET FOR ALBUM CHART SUCCESS
Sony Music is delighted to announce that this Christmas on 17th November 2014, they will release ‘Christmas Words For You’, a brand new album that for the first time brings together the world’s favourite Christmas poems, read by some of the most recognisable and popular British voices, set to much-loved Christmas music. The album is a follow-up to the surprise success of 2007’s ‘Words For You’ – the first album of classic poetry set to the world’s most familiar classical music and read by famous voices, which went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the UK alone.
Featuring 22 legendary Christmas poems written by Anne Bronte, William Wordsworth, William Blake, John Betjeman, William Shakespeare and many more, the works are brought to life by British acting luminaries Joanna Lumley (one of the stars of the original ‘Words For You’ album), Stephen Tompkinson, Hermione Norris and Jim Broadbent; to fantastic arrangements of cherished Christmas music including Joy To The World, Silent Night and The Holly and The Ivy to name just a few.
This December, the poems that helped define the magic, symbolism and tradition of Christmas will take their place in the 21st century and will be the alternative album purchase alongside the year’s most anticipated pop releases. Featuring the likes of Anne Brontë’s
Music On Christmas Morning, read by Jim Broadbent to While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night, Christina Rossetti’s In The Bleak Midwinter, read by Hermione Norris to In The Bleak Midwinter,
Samuel Taylor Colleridge’s A Christmas Carol, read by Stephen Tompkinson to Once In Royal David’s City and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s The Three Kings read by Joanna Lumley to the music of We Three Kings, this stunning collection breathes new life into these literary classics. Of course no Christmas collection would be complete without Clement Clark Moore’s Visit From St Nicholas read by Jim Broadbent with the beautiful backdrop of Jingle Bells.
Joanna Lumley said: “I am so thrilled to be part of ‘Christmas Words For You’ and once again bring poetry to a wider audience through a different medium. There is a magic about Christmas that transcends centuries and this album demonstrates that the words of over 500 years ago are as relevant today as they were then.”
Hermione Norris said: “I have thoroughly loved being part of this project. Poetry has always been one of the best mediums to express emotion and there is an added enchantment hearing these words with Christmas music. I look forward to making it part of my family Christmas and introducing these poems to my own two children.”
‘Christmas Words For You’ is released on 17 November on Sony Music.
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1/ The Three Kings by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Read by Joanna Lumley Performed to the music of We Three Kings
2/ Minstrels by William Wordsworth Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of O Come All Ye Faithful
3/ A Christmas Carol by George Wither Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of Joy To The World
4/ A Cradle Song by William Blake Read by Hermione Norris Performed to the music of Silent Night
5/ From The Short Story A Christmas Dream, And How It Came True by Louisa May Alcott Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6/ The Foolish Fir-Tree by Henry van Dyke Read by Joanna Lumley Performed to the music of O Christmas Tree
7/ A Christmas Carol by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of Once In Royal David’s City
8/ Christmas Carol by Sara Teasdale Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9/ Christmas by John Betjeman Read by Hermione Norris Performed to the music of The Holly and the Ivy
10/ Heigh Ho, The Holly by William Shakespeare Read by Joanna Lumley Performed to the music of Ding Dong Merrily On High
11/ A Christmas Carmen by John Greenleaf Whittier Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of Twelve Days Of Christmas |
12/ In The Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti Read by Hermione Norris Performed to the music of In The Bleak Midwinter
13/ Little Tree by EE Cummings Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of The First Noel
14/ Christmas by John Clare Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of Away In A Manger
15/ In Memoriam by Alfred Lord Tennyson Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
16/ Mistletoe by Walter de la Mare Read by Joanna Lumley Performed to the music of Deck The Halls
17/ Advent 1955 by John Betjeman Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of Little Donkey
18/ Santa’s New Idea by Anon Read by Joanna Lumley Performed to the music of Hark The Herald Angels Sing
19/ Music On Christmas Morning by Anne Brontë Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night
20/ Christmas Fancies by Ella Wheeler Wilcox Read by Stephen Tompkinson Performed to the music of I Saw Three Ships
21/ Snow-flakes by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Read by Hermione Norris Performed to the music of O Holy Night
22/ A Visit From St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore Read by Jim Broadbent Performed to the music of Jingle Bells |
For more information please contact:
Daniel Hinchliffe at Soundcheck Entertainment
daniel@soundcheckentertainment.co.uk
0207 437 0290
www.soundcheckentertainment.co.uk