Compiled by R. Rojas
Updated Jan. 11, 2026
The descriptions below are those of record labels or the ensembles, and not reviews by the Christmas Carols Blog. Some have been altered for better web viewing. Don't fret, we left the King's English intact. Links to the ensemble or record label have been included to make purchasing easier. If we missed your new recording, email us at: christmascarolblog@gmail.com.
The Bach Festival Society is well known
internationally and has enjoyed a long tradition of bringing world-class
talent to Central Florida. Since its inception, the Society has
expanded its offerings beyond the annual Bach Festival to include
Choral Masterworks and Visiting Artists performances, as well as a
variety of educational and community outreach programs to encourage
participation in music at all levels.
The Christmas season represents a
time for peace and hope, and through our music we express these
sentiments. May this recording be part of what opens your heart to the
joy of this special season and may it continue to resonate with you
throughout the year.
On the cusp of our 80th anniversary, the Bach
Festival Society has a musical legacy in Winter Park and Central
Florida, but our holiday traditions are much more recent.
The Society
has been associated with the Morse Museum of American Art through it's
annual Christmas in the Park festivities for almost 30 years and has
been producing it's own Christmas concerts for the past 10. Christmas
may have come late to us, but we have embraced it in a grand fashion.
The Society proudly presents this holiday celebration featuring original
versions of traditional favorites, with many arrangements written just
for us. From all of us at the Bach Festival, Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year.
The celebration of the Nativity has always been a source of inspiration for composers. The different elements of the evangelical narrative evoke numerous images: tender feelings before the Baby Jesus; the gentleness of his mother, the Virgin Mary; the procession of the three Wise Men; the angelic choirs in Heaven; and these shepherds gathered in the manger. All that appears in the musical repertoire linked to this holiday, as well as the presence of colourful instrumentations and themes connected to folk traditions. This set, released by Ricercar, brings together all these elements, drawn from the repertoires of the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Renaissance Vocal Music for the festive season by Morales, Victoria, Guerrero, Fernandez, Padilla et al, originally issued in 2003, now budget price. La Colombina at the time comprised the now household names of Maria Cristina Kiehr, Claudio Cavina, Josep Benet and Josep Cabré.
Christophorus
Schwerin Brass Collegium's new release features a mixture of well-known carols and traditional arrangements of Renaissance and Baroque seasonal music. Also included are tasteful transcriptions of popular works such as Corelli's Christmas Concerto as well as interludes for the organ, played by the renowned organist Jan Ernst.
1 Tochter Zion, Freue Dich
2 Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
3 Canzon 27 À 8
4 Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
5 Allegro
6 Adagio
7 Allegro
8 Kommet, Ihr Hirten
9 Auff Den Schäfferstantz
10 Den Die Hirten Lobten Sehre
11 Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her
12 Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her
13 Adagio
14 Allegro
15 Largo
16 Andante
17 Jauchzt Gott Mit Herzensfreud
18 Sonata 1
19 Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen
20 Variationen Über Das Französische Weihnachtslied, 'Bon Joseph Écoute Me'
21 Im Finstern Stall, O Wunder Groß
22 O Jesulein SÜß, O Jesulein Mild
23 Allegro
24 Adagio
25 Allegro
26 3 Chorale Settings of 'Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ', BWV604, BWV697 (Fughetta) and BWV722
27 Freude, Freude, Große Freude À 6
28 Lass Uns Das Jahr Vollbringen
Disc: 2
1 Adeste Fideles
2 Freue Dich, O Tochter Zion
3 Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen Alle Gleich, Buxwv202
4 Sonata Vespertina C-Dur
5 Ich Steh' and Deiner Krippen Hier, BWV469
6 In Dulci Jubilo
7 Canzon Duodecimi Toni À 8
8 Sonata Super Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ
9 Gelobet Seist Du, Jesu Christ
10 Vivace - Grave
11 Allegro
12 Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
13 Vivace
14 Allegro - Largo (Pastorale)
15 Noël in Der Art Einer Sinfonia Concertante - Thema Und Variationen Über Wohin Gehen Diese Fröhlichen Hirten?
16 Weissagungen
17 Quem Pastores
18 Heiligste Nacht
19 Auf Weihnachten
20 Es Kommt Ein Schiff, Geladen
21 Die Könige
22 Psallite
23 Schlaf Wohl, Du Himmelsknade Du
24 O Du Fröhliche, O Du Selige
Welcome all Wonders: A Christmas Cantata is a large-scale work for choir, organ, and trumpet spanning 15 movements. It celebrates the Christmas story through an imaginative selection and juxtaposition of poetry and liturgical texts, and provides a multifaceted telling of the familiar narrative.
The celebratory aspects of Christmas are tainted by darker themes that are inherent to the story but are easily overlooked, culminating in an enlightened and engaging work that explores the Christmas story in a profound manner.
The Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford is among the finest and most active university choirs in the UK. Its wide-ranging repertory includes a rich array of Renaissance and Baroque music and contemporary works.
1. Prelude
2. Alleluia
3. A virgin shall conceive
4. Ye heavens! From high the dewy nectar pour
5. Today is the beginning of our salvation
6. Oh! little blades of grass
7. Journey to Bethlehem
8. I saw a stable
9. Shepherds, rejoice!
10. See how from far, upon the eastern road
11. Tribus miraculus ornatum
12. The Slaughter of the Innocents
13. But peaceful was the night
14. Ave maris stella
15. In the beginninghttps://signumrecords.com/product/david-bednall-welcome-all-wonders/SIGCD335/
The Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford is among the finest and most active university choirs in the UK. Its wide-ranging repertory includes a rich array of Renaissance and Baroque music and contemporary works.
1. Prelude
2. Alleluia
3. A virgin shall conceive
4. Ye heavens! From high the dewy nectar pour
5. Today is the beginning of our salvation
6. Oh! little blades of grass
7. Journey to Bethlehem
8. I saw a stable
9. Shepherds, rejoice!
10. See how from far, upon the eastern road
11. Tribus miraculus ornatum
12. The Slaughter of the Innocents
13. But peaceful was the night
14. Ave maris stella
15. In the beginning
Not only lovely Christmas sounds are offered here by Amaryllis Dietliens and her ensemble. After all, the creators of the Italian Baroque works saw the beginning of Jesus’ life not just in the light of the star of Bethlehem, but rather also with an eye on its conclusion, from the perspective of Christ’s passion and death. Thus, in many a lullaby is concealed a double bottom...
Even almost spectral-like sounds are to be heard – as in Merula’s “Hor ch’é tempo di dormire,” in which the bass oscillates back and forth for several minutes between just two notes under the emphatic declamation of the voice part.
The timbres of this SuperAudio CD range from the intimate accompaniment of the voice by just a Baroque guitar up to nearly orchestral sounds with two recorders and a splendid continuo group. Soprano Amaryllis Dieltiens has been highly praised especially by connoisseurs of Baroque singing. “Fare la nina na” is already her fourth release on AEOLUS. Her colleagues are all prominent members of the very active Belgian early music scene.
Girolamo Frescobaldi Se l’aura spira
Bonifatio Graziani Gaudia, pastores
A. Sebastian Haim Pastorale
Claudio Monteverdi Laudate Dominum
Anonymus Ninna, nanna
Biagio Marini Con le stelle in ciel
Alessandro Piccinini Toccata G minor
Bonifatio Graziani Venite pastores
Pietro Francesco Cavalli O quam suavis
Giovanbatista da Gagliano Stella del mare
Francesco Turini E tanto tempo hor mai
Tarquinio Merula Hor ch’è tempo di dormire
Domenico Franzaroli Pastorale per la notte del SS. Natale
Anonymus Perche dolce bambino
Johannes Hieronymus Kapsberger Figlio dormi, dormi figlio
Giacomo Carissimi Salve, salve puellule
2013
Carus-Verlag
For this disc he has arranged 21 favorite Christmas carols for harp, performed by the ever-popular harpist Emily Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell's 30-year career includes numerous recordings, as well as performing and teaching around the world. In the words of the Washington Post, "Mitchell commands a vivid palette of colors and uses them with imagination."
https://www.albanyrecords.com/catalog/troy1438/
https://www.albanyrecords.com/catalog/troy1438/
An inspiring sequence of Christmas music ancient and modern, culminating in Britten’s virtuosic choral masterpiece, A Boy Was Born: Paul McCreesh leads the Gabrieli Consort (joined by the Trebles of Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir) in this evocative and contrasting collection of festive works that samples works from the 12th century to the present day.
- Adam Lay Ybounden – Matthew Martin – 3.39
- Veni, Veni Emanuel – Anonymous (13th century) – 3.30
- Long, Long Ago – Herbert Howells – 6.00
- Lullay, Lullay: Als I Lay on Yoolis Night – Anonymous (14th century) – 7.16
- Balulalow – Francis Pott – 2.56
- Qui Creavit Celum – Anonymous (13th/14th century) – 2.52
- The Three Kings – Jonathan Dove – 4.37
- This Endere Nyghth I Saw a Syghth – Anonymous (15th/16th century) – 7.06
- A Hymn of The Nativity – Kenneth Leighton – 6.54
- Letabundus – Anonymous (12th/13th century) – 3.23
- A Boy Was Born: I. A Boy Was Born – Benjamin Britten – 2.15
- A Boy Was Born: II. Lullay, Jesu – Benjamin Britten – 3.43
- A Boy Was Born: III. Herod – Benjamin Britten – 2.03
- A Boy Was Born: IV. Jesu, as Thou art our Saviour – Benjamin Britten – 3.08
- A Boy Was Born: V. The Three Kings – Benjamin Britten – 3.42
- A Boy Was Born: VI. In the bleak mid-winter – Benjamin Britten – 5.19
- A Boy Was Born: VII. Noel! – Benjamin Britten – 9.00
Established in 2010, the semi-professional Chorale focuses on presenting sacred music from many different sacred traditions in the sacred space originally intended by the composer. This stunning live album combines recordings from the popular 'Candlelight Christmas' series held on Dec. 7, 2012 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle and Dec 8, 2012 concert at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seattle's University District ; with tracks from a recording session held at Holy Rosary on June 30, 2013.
1 In Silent Night
2 Unborn: A Processional Introit
3 O Come Emmanuel
4 Isaiah's Voice
5 Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium)
6 Ave Maria A4
7 Mary Had a Baby
8 Ave Maria
9 Gabriel's Message
10 Then Christmas Comes
11 Lux Aurumque
12 Silent Night
13 Dona Nobis Pacem
Disc: 2
1 Recorded Live
2 Digital Recording
3 Includes a 12 Page Booklet with Lyrics, Program Notes and Graphics
The program provides an equally prayerful as joyous Christmas spirit. The performance of the ensemble under Professor Wolfgang Helbich was honored with numerous awards over the years.
Many concerts at major festivals at home and abroad, and numerous CD and radio productions have made the Alsfelder Vokalensemble's beautiful sound known across the borders of Germany.
Carus-Verlag
Carus-Verlag
Featuring some of the world s best soloists and early music performers, this joyous holiday CD captures the excitement and splendor of Galicia, an area of Spain with deep Celtic roots where, for centuries, European pilgrims have followed The Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostella and the cathedral named for him. Live radio performances and interviews will be arranged with local public radio and college stations the CD is tied specifically to the 2013 Christmas Revels production in Cambridge, MA and will get significant notice at the 16 performances taking place at Harvard University this winter.
1 Hymn of the Ancient Galician Kingdom
2 Fum, Fum, Fum!
3 Dadme Albricias, Hijos D'eva
4 A Bel N Vinde Pastores
5 Aguinaldo
6 Pasodobre de Mallou
7 A Rianxeira
8 Ondas Do Mar de Vigo
9 A la Nanita Nana
10 Ay, C Mo Suena la Gayta Gallega!
11 Alborada
12 Mui Eira de Chantada
13 Esta Noite de Natale
14 El Can't Dels Ocells
15 Os Reis Do Caurel
16 Alborada de Ourense
17 Ni O Dios D'amor Herido
18 Nadal de Luintra
19 Espagnoletta
20 Rey a Quien Reyes Adoran
21 Santa Maria, Strela Do Dia
22 En Bel N Naceu Un Neno
23 Travellers' Carol
Label: International
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