Four Songs for Christmastime feels less like a seasonal release and more like stepping quietly into a different space. Recorded live in the ancient acoustic of Leominster Priory, this short EP captures Hilgrove Kenrick at his most thoughtful, bringing his background in film music into the choral world with a real sense of care and restraint.
The opening track, Winter’s Breath, sets the tone immediately. Wordless and delicate, it unfolds slowly through close harmonies and soft, suspended textures. The high soprano lines float above the choir, creating a cold, almost shimmering atmosphere that feels genuinely wintry rather than traditionally festive. It’s the kind of piece that asks you to stop and listen rather than hum along. That sense of stillness carries through the EP. Here is the Man has a deeper, more reflective weight to it, and it’s easy to imagine why it’s been chosen for a cathedral premiere. Kenrick allows the music to breathe, trusting the space and the choir instead of pushing for drama. The result is quietly powerful and deeply moving.
Chloe May Evans’ When They Saw the Star fits naturally alongside Kenrick’s writing, offering warmth and clarity without breaking the mood. The closing arrangement of I Wonder as I Wander is simple and sincere, avoiding sentimentality and letting the familiar melody speak for itself. What really stands out across the EP is the sense of unity — between composer, conductor, choir, and recording space. Nothing feels overworked or polished to the point of losing its humanity. Instead, Four Songs for Christmastime feels honest and intimate, a reflective take on Christmas music that lingers long after it ends. This is a release for quiet evenings and careful listening — a reminder that Christmas music can be about stillness as much as celebration.
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