Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston, sung by Ensemble Altera

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Elizabeth Poston
Ensemble Altera
directed by Christopher Lowrey
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The text of this carol, 'Jesus Christ the Apple Tree' is a poem first published in 1784 New Hampshire in a collection prosaically titled 'Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of Religious Assemblies and Private Christians', compiled by Baptist minister Joshua Smith. Whether its provenance is English or American is still the subject of debate, but the transcendentalist beauty of its narrator communing with the divine through nature is not. Elizabeth Poston sets the deeply personal text without affectation in a quiet, almost shape-note hymn style.

[@MarkVeenman730314]

Final verse in grand stretto was fire. bravo.

[@CatholicBallerina47]

my music teacher sang in this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cathefowler9201]

I was first introduced to the glorious piece of music by Sir David Wilcocks when he came to lead us at Emory University in Atlanta, GA in the early 1990s during our Festival of Lessons and Carols. I have searched high and low to find a performance/ recording that (in my mind) duplicated the brilliance of the experience we had with him. We sang those evenings in a large church with wonderful acoustics. THIS is exactly how it is supposed to sound!!!! Thank you for such warmth and richness. Thank you for the purity of sound. Thank you for keeping this music alive! I look forward to hearing more of your performances. Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Cathé

[@andreaweidemann5186]

Jaw dropping. Bravi tutti.

[@ContessaCavalier]

Divine

[@davidbasden5700]

Such a lovely performance! The little round at the end is so effective. 🎶 ... and just like Ms Bergang (and the ensemble) I'm also enjoying the glitter! 🌟✨🌟✨🌟

[@laurabergang]

Heavenly piece, heavenly singing!

[@EnsembleAltera]

Thank you so much!

[@laurabergang]

I don't want to get carried away and make this a loop of call and response but it is SO dear of you to write a thank you. My most important compliment: I LOVE the glitter!!! Bling is my life (but I care not about diamonds (thank goodness!) Rhinestones, sequins, glitter, etc. Stay safe and best of everything to you!

[@EnsembleAltera]

@@laurabergang We love glitter too :)

[@gljenngs]

Sang this lovely song many, many years ago but to a different melody. Always lovely.

[@annabelwaterfield6108]

This is so lovely! Congratulations to conductor and singers.

[@claystringham1177]

Beautiful! I've never heard that song before. Thank you for sharing!

[@suzearl]

The most incredible performance of my favorite carol!

[@melmorris134]

Thank you all, singing this in the Christmas choir and was struggling with it until I sand along with your beautiful video

[@PadiddleDD]

Exquisite

[@PonchanCAJ]

Absolutely gorgeous performance. Thank you.

[@EnsembleAltera]

Thank you very much!

[@brianbannon6746]

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

[@nickway4693]

Utter perfection

[@denisecoit7675]

Beautiful! Never heard of this song until I read about it in Jan Karon’s book. “Mitford cookbook & Kitchen Reader.

[@linhiril664]

What church is this? It reminds me of St. Anne’s in Jerusalem.