"Anonymous 4's Johanna Maria Rose shows that she knows a thing or two about arranging for the voices she's been singing with for the past couple of decades, contributing her own very pleasing takes on the carols 'The holly and the ivy', 'Grene growith the holy', and 'I saw three ships'. Highlights are many, but include Peter Maxwell Davies' uniquely affecting 'A Calendar of Kings', basically a fanciful harmonic journey through the wondrous imagery of George Mackay Brown's poem--a mystical trip not through Eastern landscapes but rather through the poet's own Orkney Islands--that's full of wild and wonderful colors and startling effects that show off Anonymous 4's rarely heard contemporary-music chops. Richard Rodney Bennett's setting of 'Balulalow' is a gem, as are Marsha Genensky's solo interpretations of 'Good people all', accompanied by Lawrence-King's vibrant, bell-like Irish harp, and the irresistibly catchy 'Can wassel' (Wassail Song).

The disc is enhanced by a well-planned programming order that ensures transitions from track to track are smooth and sensitive to keys and to the listener's need both for tonal continuity and musical variety... It need not be said that Anonymous 4 fans will want this without delay. And if it's possible that there are listeners new to this group, here's an easy way to get to know its matchless sound and enduring, engaging personality." - classicstoday.com

Gramophone Editor’s Choice
“Harmonia Mundi has done Anonymous 4 proud with concise but highly informative notes and a comprehensively filled booklet. The recorded sound is spacious and slightly distant. A splendid production, worthy of wide circulation.” - Editor’s Choice, Gramophone, January 2004

"If it's the Christmas spirit you're after, try the new selection of Celtic and British songs and carols "Wolcum Yule," by the vocal quartet Anonymous 4, with harpist Andrew Lawrence-King...alluring." - Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times Magazine, November 9, 2003

Track Listing:
1. Awake, and join the cheerful choir, Trad. English
2. Good people all, Trad. English
3. The seven rejoices of Mary, Trad. English
4. The Lamb, John Tavener
5. A Scots Lilt, Anon., 17th c.
6. Balulalow, Trad. Scottish
7. Balulalow, Richard Rodney Bennett
8. The holly and the ivy, Trad. English
9. The Reel of Tullochgorum, Trad. Scottish
10. I saw three ships, Trad. English
11. A Calendar of Kings, Peter Maxwell Davies (first recording)
12. Air: Lá fuar geimhreadh (On a cold winter’s day), Trad. Irish
13. An teicheadh go hÉigipt (Flight into Egypt), Trad. Irish
14. A god, and yet a man?, Geoffrey Burgon (first recording)
15. Grene growith the holy, Henry VIII
16. Wel, dyma'r borau gorau (Behold, here is the best morning), Trad. Welsh
17. The Cherry Tree Carol, Trad. English
18. Can wassel (Wassail Song), Trad. Cornish
19. A New Year Carol, Benjamin Britten