Acis Issues "Daniel Knaggs: The Joyful Mysteries Choral Symphony and Other Works"

 

Acis Issues "Daniel Knaggs: The Joyful Mysteries Choral Symphony and Other Works"

Daniel Knaggs: The Joyful Mysteries Choral Symphony
and Other Works

Leonardo Llagostera, boy soloist
Gabriella Reyes, soprano
Sarah Mesko, mezzo-soprano
Federico De Michelis, bass-baritone
Houston Chamber Choir
Kinetic Ensemble
Monarch Chamber Players
Robert Simpson, conductor

I. The Annunciation
1. Solo: "Hail, full of grace"
2. Chorus: "Since you have been given joy"
3. Aria: "Be it done unto me"
4. Chorus: "This infusion from above"

II. The Visitation
5. Solo and Chorus: "Blessed are you"
6. Solo: "My soul magnifies the Lord"
7. Chorus: "Your womb held joy"

III. The Nativity
8. Pastorale
9. Solo and Chorus: "Be not afraid"
10. Chorus: "Gloria in excelsis Deo"
11. Aria: "Take courage"
12. Chorus: "O Virga Mediatrix"

IV. The Presentation
13. Chorus and Canticle: "Behold, He descends"
14. Aria: "Behold light withholding its rays"
15. Chorus: "O Mary, Your inmost being held joy"

V. The Finding in the Temple
16. Duet: "Son... My Son..."
17. Chorus: "When the work of God's finger came forth"
18. Finale: "...and in resounding praises"

50-Year Ave Maria Project

19. Ave Maria No. 18 (2022)
Koroleva myru "Regina Pacis" (Queen of Peace)

20. Ave Maria No. 19 (2023)
Causa Nostra Laetitia (Cause of Our Joy)



Recorded October 5–7, 2023, Holy Rosary Church, and South Main Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, USA

Ave Maria No. 18, recorded December 11, 2022, Ave Maria No. 19, recorded December 9–10, 2023 Villa de Matel, Houston, Texas, USA
Photography © Jeff Grass

https://www.acisproductions.com/daniel-knaggs-the-joyful-mysteries-ave-maria-houston-chamber-choir-robert-simpson

"Tidings Tell: Carols from Copley Square" released on Acis

 

"Tidings Tell: Carols from Copley Square" released on Acis

Billboard #1 Classical Crossover

“…your must-have Christmas CD for 2024! Along with the excellent recorded sound, capturing all the grandeur of the space, the immaculate performances and sparkling repertoire will delight and inspire you, filling your yuletide with seasonal joy.”
                        Murray Somerville, The American Organist

“eloquently encapsulating the season’s drama, joyfulness and beauty”
                Michael Quinn, Choir & Organ


1. Angels We Have Heard on High, arr. Jerrick Cavagnaro (b. 1996)

2. Coventry Carol, arr. B.E. Boykin (b. 1989)

3. Masters in this Hall, arr. Cavagnaro

4. What Child is This? Thomas Hewitt Jones (b. 1984)

5. Audete, Gaudete, arr. Ward Swingle (1927–2015)

6. Have you Seen the Baby Jesus? Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)

7. O Little Town of Bethlehem, arr. Richard Webster (b. 1952)

8. There is No Rose, Jessica Nelson (b. 1983)

9. The Holly and the Ivy, Stuart Thompson (b. 1970)

10. In Bethlehem Above, Yshani Perinpanayagam (b. 1983)

11. O Come, all ye Faithful, arr. Webster

12. Що то за предиво в світі новина, (What is this great wonder of the world?) arr. Andriy Hnatyshyn (1906–1995)

13. Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day, James Burton (b. 1974)

14. Ave Maria, Robert Parsons (c. 1535–1572)

15. The Magi’s Dream, James Whitbourn (1963–2024)

16. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, arr. Webster/Craig Phillips (b. 1961)

17. The Holy Boy, John Ireland (1879–1962)

18. The Oxen, Jessica French (b. 1984)

19. The First Nowell, arr. Paul Halley (b. 1952)

20. Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol, George Baker (b. 1951)

https://www.acisproductions.com/the-great-glad-tidings-tell-carols-from-copley-square-trinity-church-boston-colin-lynch-

Louise McClelland Jacobsen interprets song and carols of Rued Langgaard on new EP

 

Louise McClelland Jacobsen interprets song and carols of Rued Langgaard on new EP

Rued Langgaard’s songs have like all his other music needed to be rediscovered. The songs range widely in style - from violent, romantic gestures to sonically delicate, impressionistic expressions. On this EP 'P2 Talent of the Year 2024', soprano Louise McClelland Jacobsen interprets a selection of songs, which contain spiritual themes, Christmas carols and poetic depictions of nature.


 Stream: https://lnk.to/LanggaardChristmas
 Read more and see the booklet with lyrics: https://www.dacapo-records.dk/.../langgaard-christmas-moods

Description above is that of label or ensemble.

Capriccio issues "Christmas in the Austrian Alps"

 

Capriccio issues "Christmas in the Austrian Alps"

These Christmas songs from the Alps dispense with stylization encountered in the ‘high’ art. The Latin-German language mix dominating in the midnight Christmas liturgy, with alternate voices of priests and laymen, was replaced by the familiar local dialect. Texts and melodies were passed down by word of mouth and underwent many different changes during their wanderings through Alpine valleys.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9666012--christmas-in-the-austrian-alps

Thomas Bergeson Releases A Christmas Carol: Suite for Orchestra and Choir

 

Thomas Bergeson Releases A Christmas Carol: Suite for Orchestra and Choir

By Thomas Bergerson, this is a 24 minutes long orchestral and choral adaptation of the famous story by Charles Dickens, in a more traditional classical style, recorded with a large live orchestra and choir in Sofia, Bulgaria with the help of maestro George Strezov and his team.

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-christmas-carol/1779336550

La Capella Reial de Catalunya Releases "Noël Baroque au temps de Louis XIV"

 

La Capella Reial de Catalunya Releases "Noël Baroque au temps de Louis XIV"

Marc-Antoine Charpentier
NOËL BAROQUE
AU TEMPS DE LOUIS XIV

1. Premier Noël: Une Jeune Pucelle (Lise Viricel soprano) 2’00

PASTORALE SUR LA NAISSANCE
DE NOTRE SEIGNEUR JÉSUS-CHRIST H. 483 (1684)

2. 1. OUVERTURE 1’10
PREMIÈRE PARTIE
3. 2. Scène première : Que nos soupirs, Seigneur / Symphonie 10’43
4. 3. Scène seconde : Régnez, calme profond 7’40
5. 4. Scène 3e : Célestes compagnons 0’14
6. 5. Scène 4e : Gloire dans les hauts lieux 4’12

SECONDE PARTIE
7. 6. Scène 5e : Pasteurs, éveillez-vous ! 8’21
8. 7. Scène 6e : Joignons nos flûtes et nos voix 4’36

9. NUIT · Interlude Instrumental
(De In Nativitatem Domini Canticum, H. 416, 1690) 3’46
10. Deuxième Noël: Or, nous dites Marie (Jeanne Lefort soprano) 1’49

MESSE DE MINUIT, H. 9 (ca. 1694)

11. 1. KYRIE 6’54
12. 2. GLORIA 5’10
13. 3. CREDO 10’48
14. Troisième Noël: Laissez paître vos bêtes 1’06
15. 4. SANCTUS 2’34
16. 5. AGNUS DEI 2’28

La Capella Reial de Catalunya
SOLISTES
Jeanne Lefort, Maria Cristina Kiehr, Lise Viricel sopranos
Gabriel Díaz contreténor
Víctor Sordo ténor / haute-contre
Mauro Borgioni baryton
Christian Immler basse
Lluís Vilamajó préparation de l’ensemble vocale
Le Concert des Nations
JORDI SAVALL
Dessus de viole & Direction

·

Marc-Antoine Charpentier
(1643-1704)
In Festo Nativitatem Domini

Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, is, together with Easter, one of the principal feasts in the Christian calendar, and occupies a pre-eminent place in the music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier. 

Although his works dedicated to the Nativity were commissioned, the composer, as a man of faith, gave them the very best of his inspiration. 

Charpentier’s most frequently performed work today is his Messe de Minuit, composed on a number of noëls (Christmas carols) whose tunes were familiar to all. 

However, to celebrate this feast, the composer also chose a variety of other genres, including instrumental Christmas music, the histoire sacrée (or oratorio) and pastorale.

The two major works presented here were commissioned by different patrons for whom Charpentier composed extensively and who influenced the evolution of his career in Paris. 

Not born into a family of musicians, Marc-Antoine was the son of Louis Charpentier, a master scribe, and spent his childhood and adolescence in the Saint-Séverin district of Paris. 

We know nothing about his musical training, but we do know that he attended the Faculty of Law. Perhaps he did part of a university degree, learning all aspects of music, like many of his colleagues. 

Or perhaps it was during the three years he spent in Rome, where he travelled for reasons that are not entirely clear, that he perfected his skills by studying and listening to the great masters who were active there at that time, such as Francesco Foggia, Alessandro Melani, Francesco Beretta and above all Giacomo Carissimi.

https://www.alia-vox.com/en/producte/charpentier-noel-baroque-au-temps-de-louis-xiv/

Christmas Carol Film Flub: Little Women (1994)

 

Christmas Carol Film Flub: Little Women (1994)

by. R. Rojas

I was almost through all my Christmas movies this holiday season and I came across this film flub in the 1994 Little Women film.

Now, first, I wanted to discuss if Little Women is a Christmas move? I would put the 1994 version, at least, as "Christmas adjacent." It is definingly more Christmasy in comparison to the 2019 version. 

When viewing the film, one can see that the producers wanted to extend that Christmas feeling to viewers. The film begins around Christmas during the United States Civil War. There is/are subsequent Christmas scenes in the following years. 

Even the release of the 1994 Little Women may make it a Christmas movie and grant it removal from the adjacent jail. The film was released on Christmas Day 1994. In fact, the first sentence of the book talks about Christmas!

In the first Christmas scene, the sisters, mother, and housekeeper, are at the piano singing "Ding, Dong, Merrily, On High" on Christmas Eve. However, remember, the book describes the lives of these women during the U.S. Civil War and afteryears. The text that the little women are singing would not be set to the tune until the 1920s.

Although the tune is very old, being called "le branle de l'Official" in Orchésographie, a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593), the text is not that old. George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934) wrote the text and set it to the music of "le branle de L'Official."  

The carol was first published in 1924 in his The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons. Charles Wood would write harmonies to the carol for its inclusion in the book.

It there a chance some version of it would have been floating around in the early 1860s. Unlikely. Woodward, born in 1848, would have been 13 years old at the start of the U.S. Civil War. Woodward did not begin his university studies until 1867. He was not ordained until 1874. "Ding Dong Merrily on High" was not included in Woodward's first carol book Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide in 1897 Even if it was, it would be more than thirty years after the events in Little Women.

The book's first chapter implies they were singing "Twinkle, twinkle Little Star" at the piano.