Noël - Sonorité Saxophone Quartet
Each December, the Sonorité Saxophone Quartet can be found performing Christmas concerts across Hertfordshire and North London – family events filled with music, laughter, and a sense of community.
Our debut Christmas album, Noël, captures the heart of those concerts: a collection of familiar favourites, new arrangements, and original works that reflect both the joy and quiet reflection of the festive season.
Released under our label Sonorité Music, the recording features the quartet alongside guest artists Jill Morton (piano) and Martin Callaghan (vocals and narration).
Comes in a 4 panel digipack with 8 page booklet.
Each December, the Sonorité Saxophone Quartet can be found performing Christmas concerts across Hertfordshire and North London – family events filled with music, laughter, and a sense of community. This album brings together the heart of those concerts: a collection of familiar favourites, new arrangements, and original works that capture both the joy and quiet reflection of the festive season.
We are enormously grateful to everyone who made this project possible – to Martin Callaghan and Jill Morton for their inspiring musicianship, to Ben and Annabel Connellan for their artistry and care in recording and production, to St Leonard’s Church, Flamstead for providing such a beautiful space, and to our Crowdfunder supporters whose generosity brought this album to life. Special thanks to Olivia Murphy and John Maul for their wonderful compositions, which have become highlights of this album. We hope Noël brings a little warmth and magic into your home this Christmas, wherever you may be listening.
The album includes two exciting new pieces:
Before the Wild Hurricane by Olivia Murphy
A vibrant setting of A Visit from St Nicholas (’Twas the Night Before Christmas), commissioned by the quartet in 2023, featuring narration by Martin Callaghan.All Aboard the Reindeer Express by John Maul
A sparkling work for solo piano, recorded here for the first time by Jill Morton — a joyful addition to the Christmas piano repertoire.
New Works
Track List
Troika (From Lieutenant Kijé, Op. 60) – Sergei Prokofiev, arr. Daniel Ephgrave, with Jill Morton (piano)
White Christmas – Irving Berlin, arr. Deke Sharon
Before the Wild Hurricane – Olivia Murphy – with narration of A Visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, narrated by Martin Callaghan
O Holy Night – Adolphe Adam, arr. Daniel Ephgrave, with Jill Morton (piano)
All Aboard the Reindeer Express – John Maul, performed by Jill Morton (solo piano)
La Bohème: Christmas Scene / Quando M’en Vo – Giacomo Puccini, arr. Daniel Ephgrave, with Jill Morton (piano)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Traditional, arr. Daniel Ephgrave, with Martin Callaghan (vocals)
Evening Bells (From Weihnachtsbaum, S. 186) – Franz Liszt, arr. Daniel Ephgrave
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, arr. Rowan Baker
Release Information
Pre-order: from 1 November 2025
Official release date: 21 November 2025
Label: Sonorité Music
Format: Digital & CD (Limited Edition of 200 Digipacks)
Available on: Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major streaming platforms.
Credits
Sonorité Saxophone Quartet
Jenny Akroyd – Soprano Saxophone
Kathryn McGuinness – Alto Saxophone
Nathan Harding – Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Ephgrave – Baritone Saxophone
Guest Artists
Jill Morton – Piano
Martin Callaghan – Vocals and Narration
Composers and Arrangers
Olivia Murphy · John Maul · Daniel Ephgrave · Deke Sharon · Rowan Baker
Recorded at St Leonard’s Church, Flamstead – August 2025
Produced by Sonorité Music