The Boston Camerata Releases Christmas in the Middle Ages Album
Label Description:
Drawing on a wide variety of sources, mingling liturgical Latin with French, English, Italian and Iberian vernaculars, these magnificent songs, hymns and processionals show the multitude of ways in which the birth of Christ was celebrated in medieval times. The trio of female singers is accompanied by harp, fiddle, bells and wind instruments: together they touchingly evoke all the tenderness, hope and joy of medieval Christmas songs.
Disclaimer: Regarding, the heading photo used above, we do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended, it is used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA
A good essay by Jim McDormott on Christmas carols. He says:
"I learned of a horrifying tradition around Christmas carols. Some of you
out there are apparently living under the terrible burden of believing
that Christmas carols are only meant to be listened to until Christmas
Day."
Disclaimer: Regarding, the heading photo used above, we do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended, it is used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA
While we are still working on a post on Elizabeth Poston, we
decided to focus on a 21st Century composer and choir director, and
that is Sarah MacDonald (b. 1968).
MacDonald is a Canadian–born organist, conductor, and composer
living in the UK. She currently is at Selwyn College, Cambridge as Fellow and
Director of Music and is also the director of the girl choristers at Ely
Cathedral.
MacDonald has been at Selwyn College more than 20 years,
starting in 1999 and is the first woman to be in that post. In 2018, she received
the award of Associate of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM). A more in-depth biography can be found on
Wikipedia and at her website.
Her most recent recordings with Chapel Choir of Selwyn
College, Cambridge was 2020’s Choral Music
by Paul Ayres off Regent Records and the Christmas album Christmas Music by Ben Parry (2019)
which also included theEly Cathedral
Girls' Choir.
Previous Christmas recordings include:
An Ely Christmas
with the Girl Choristers and Layclerks of Ely Cathedral Choir (Regent 2018)
Christmas from Selwyn
( Refent 2017) Choral music for Advent and Christmas by Alan
Bullard (Regent 2015)
Sing reign of fair
maid: Music for Christmas and the New Year (Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir)(Regent
2008)
The Moon of Wintertime: Carols from around the world (Chapel
Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge)( URM Audio 2005)
MacDonald has an arraignment for upper voices and organ of "The Cherry Tree Carol" (2015) (Encore Publications):
Arise, shine! (SATB with divisi) Encore Publications. Selection can be seen in this Selwyn College Chapel: Readings and carols for the First Sunday of Advent:
MacDonald does have a Christmas song called "Bethlehem Star" (SATB with organ), but I could not find a video for it. At her website, McDonald provides a link to Sacred Music by Women Composers, Vol. 3 that has this song in it. MacDonald also has a version of "Do You Hear What I Hear (SSAATTBB) forthcoming in 2022. She has a 2019 score of "Guadete" which can be found on Encore Publications. She has much more scared music that can be found at her website, and she also has a setting of Magnificat:
Jan. 31, 2021 Correction: Our apologies to the composer. We corrected the spelling of the composer's last name.
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Westminster Williamson Voices has released a new album of winter and Christmas pieces. It contains mix of carols and winter pieces by various composers.
Improvisation on Coventry Carol, Sam Scheibe, Christian Koller, Guillermo Passarin, Alex Tomlinson
Solitude, James Whitbourn
The Stars Now Rearrange Themselves, Thomas LaVoy
The Burning Ladder, Sarah Rimkus
Salvation to All That Will Is Nigh, Anthony Maglione
Brightest and Best, Sarah Rimkus
Coventry Carol, John Frederick Hudson
Magnificat, Peter Relph
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Sam Scheibe
Disclaimer: Regarding, the heading photo used above, we do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended, it is used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA
Elora Singers release "Radiant Dawn" album full of Christmas Classics
Elora Singers have released new Christmas album of that includes the music of Sir. David Willcocks, Bob Chilcott, Jonathan Dove, Jeff Enns, Ola Gjeillo, James MacMillan, Philip Stopford, Arvo Part, and more.
We Are Looking for Videos/Recordings of this Music
Working List
Updated Oct. 2, 2022
Yes, we are exaggerating. Not necessary lost, but we are seeking your help. Do you know of a recording or video on the Internet of this work being performed? Do you know of a recording (e.g., album, ep, LP).
If so let us know by emailing us at: christmascarolblog@gmail.com.
Reginal Tustin Baker (4 July 1900 – 18 December 1966)
Sleep Holy Babe
Christ was Born on Christmas Day
-------------
H. Hugh Bancroft
Good Christians Now Let All Rejoice (1948) - carol
________
Bernard Barrell (15 August 1919 – 2 January 2005)
A Carol Prelude for string orchestra and 3 recorders, Op.17 (1958)
Longfellow's Carol (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day) for voice or unison voices and piano (or organ), Op.121 (1989)
I Sing of a Maiden and Lullay My Liking for soprano and mixed chorus a cappella, Op.7 (1948)
Two Christmas Preludes
for Recorders and Strings, Op. 32 (1961) (Based on "Sussex"
Carol tune and "In dulci
jubilo"
Two Carols for unaccompanied mixed voices, Op. 66 (1971) - (As Joseph was a-waslking & Rejoice and be merry).
How Far is It to Bethlehem?, Carol for unison voices and piano, Op. 73 (1973); words by Frances Chesterton.
Two 15th Century Carols for female, male or mixed chorus a capella, Op. 75 (1974)
- I sing of a maiden and There is no rose of such virtue.
Three Hymn-Tunes (Unison Voices & Organ/Pf., Op. 78
Songs of praise the angels sang. ("Lucian")(Words: J. Montgomery: 1771-1854)
Nativity Music for unison voices and piano (with optional recorders, etc.), Op. 80 (1976)
Seven lesser joys of Mary
As shepherds lay within the fold
Lute-Book Lullaby (W. Ballet)
Rejoice and be merry
I sing the Birth (Ben Johnson)
Duets for Descants Four Pieces 2 Descant recorders (or alternative combination)
(i) Fanfaire (ii) Carol (iii) Waltz (iv.) Canon (20 questions)(the first movement may be repeated at the end)
(Pub. Barry Brunton Music Publishers)
Christemas. 3 carols for mixed chorus a capella. Op. 120 (1989)
In excelsis gloria
Sweet was the song the Virgin song
Make we merry
For Ipswich Choral Society
(Pub. Oecumuse)(S.C.L.)(C.R.)
Longfellow's Carol (I heard the bells on Christmas Day) Solo or Unison Voice(s) and Piano (or Organ)
Longfellow's Carol (I head the bells on Christmas Day) Solo or Unison Voices(s) and PIano (or Organ)
Longfellow's Carol (I head the bells on Christmas Day) Solo or Unison Voice(s) and Piano (or Organ)
(Joyce Barrel died on 6th December 1989)
A Christmas Triptych for mixed chorus a capella, Op. 133 (1995)
Christmas Hymn ("Once in Royal David's City")
Christmas Carol (Rejoice and be merry - a gallery carol)
Christmas Fanfare (Gloria in excelsis)
For Forester and the Academy of St. Clement Norwich
(Pub. Oecumuse)
_____________________
William Henry Bell
Medieval Songs for female chorus, string orchestra and piano
"The Maidden that is Makeless (to "I syng of a mayden")
"Mater ora filium"
"The Flowr of Jesse"
"A Domys Day"
"May in the greenwood"
"Twelve Oxen"
_________________________
Ronald Binge (July 15, 1910 - Sept. 6, 1979)
Carol of the Drum (arrg.)
I Wonder as I wonder (arrangement)(Lemmel)
_____________________
Rutland Boughton
Four Everyman Songs: 3. The Angel Song
According to the Rutland Boughton Foundation, this piece is "location unknown."
"Little Tree" which was commissioned by the Young People's Chorus of New York City for Transient Glory. We could not find a video for this. (Wise Music).
"Leaf from Leaf Christ Knows," "...was
given its first performance by the Choir of Wells Cathedral, James Kealey
(organ) and Matthew Owens (conductor), during the festival new music wells
76–16, on Thursday 20th October 2016. It was commissioned by Cathedral
Commissions of Wells Cathedral with the generous support of private
donors" (Wise Music). Text is by Christina Rosseti. We could not find a
video of this.
FOUND:
Leaf from Leaf Christ Knows, Judith Wier
__________________________________
Lennox Berkeley
I could not find videos that included an arraignment of Adeste Fideles for Organ and Chorale (1964) . I found it on the Wise Music catalogue website, but the website states it is "unavailable for performance." It is listed as SATB and one instrument.
Charlotte Alington Barnard "Claribel"
The Christmas Rose, Twelve Ballads (1868)
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Voctave puts out Extended Edition of 2016 Album: Spirit of the Season
Label Description:
Just as VOCTAVE is a musical ensemble greater than the sum of its 11
members, The Spirit of The Season (Deluxe Edition) is greater than the
sum of its brilliant song selections, the intricate arrangements and the
angelic voices. From traditional moments like O Holy Night and O Come O
Come Emmanuel to jolly strains of Frosty The Snowman and The Man With
The Bag to newer Christmas classics like Where Are You Christmas and
Mary Did You Know?, VOCTAVE has truly given us all a treasured gift that
represents so many of the beautiful moments of the Yuletide season.
This elegant recording is sure to be the favorite in your home for many
seasons to come.
The Sixteen Releases Album "Carol of the Bells" on Coro Label
From Advent Antiphons to Lesser-known, but beautiful carols
Label Description:
The Sixteen contrasts traditional with
contemporary in this choral feast of festive music. Bob Chilcott's
sumptuous Advent Antiphons based on ancient plainsong melodies
anticipate the coming of Christmas and feature alongside Mykola
Leontovich's much-loved Carol of the Bells, Richard Rodney Bennett’s
stunning Susanni and Eric Whitacre’s shimmering Lux aurumque.
Interspersed with the beautiful simplicity of traditional carols, this
is a Christmas collection to savor.
Disclaimer: Regarding, the heading photo used above, we do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended, it is used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA
We are putting together articles on the Christmas carols and music by John Rutter and Elizabeth Poston continuing our series on the carol repertory. This may require weeks of work, but we wanted to post a little about composers who may have a smaller Christmas repertory.
As famous and as long of a career that Edward Elgar had, his Christmas output is not much. Of course, you can search for a good biography of Elgar anywhere on the Internet.
The first piece is is "Lo! Christ the Lord is Born" (1908), below performed by the Gustav Mahler Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Society of Colombo. The notes on the video say the "hymn" is "rarely heard hymn...." It is describes as :Christmas carol SATB unacc.,after Grete Malverne on a Rocke, 1897. ." The text is by poet Shapcott Wensley. In this recording, brass begins the carol before flowing into the chorus accompanied by organ. It is very hymn like:
"Lo! Christ the Lord is Born"
The second Christmas piece is called "A Christmas Greeting" Op. 52 below of a 1978 recording of the Hereford Cathedral. Even on that video, the notes say, "As far as we know, this is the only live recording of one of Elgar's least-known works. From a BBC radio programme entitled 'Reflections in Words and Music', which was recorded in 1978 and eventually broadcast on 25 April 1980."
It has an instrumental introduction before the entrance of the children's choir, which is very beautiful. The string and piano adornments are also very well crafted to go along with the choir crescendos and diminuendos. The text is by Caroline Alice Elgar (1848-1920). It is listed as a carol for 2 sopranos, male chorus ad lib, 2 violins and piano and the strings and piano in the background is what makes "A Christmas Greeting" great as well has how Elgar is able to make the text of the poem stick to music so elegantly.
The notes of Hyperion's website for a Worchester Cathedral Choir recording of the work state:
On 8 December 1907, while they were in Rome, Elgar revived the two
violins and piano accompaniment when he set another poem by Alice, A Christmas Greeting.
They sent it home to Hereford for Dr G R Sinclair and his cathedral
choristers who gave the first performance on New Year's Day 1908, The
setting is for high voices, with optional tenor and bass parts and, like
the Enigma theme, it is in G minor and G major. It contains a quotation
from the 'Pastoral Symphony' in Handel's Messiah at the reference to pipers wandering far.
A Christmas Greeting
Bowered on sloping hillsides rise
In sunny glow, the purpling vine;
Beneath the greyer English skies,
In fair array, the red-gold apples shine.
To those in snow,
To those in sun,
Love is but one;
Hearts beat and glow,
By oak and palm.
Friends, in storm or calm.
On and on old Tiber speeds,
Dark with the weight of ancient crime;
Far north, thr' green and quiet meads,
Flows on the Wye in mist and silv'ring rime.
To those in snow,
To those in sun,
Love is but one;
Hearts beat and glow,
By oak and palm.
Friends, in storm or calm.
The pifferari wander far,
They seek the shrines, and hymn the peace
Which herald angels, 'neath the star,
Foretold to shepherds, bidding strife to cease.
Our England sleeps in shroud of snow,
Bells, sadly sweet, knell life's swift flight,
And tears, unbid, are wont to flow,
As "Noel! Noel!" sounds across the night.
To those in snow,
To those in sun,
Love is but one!
Hearts beat and glow,
By oak and palm.
Friends, in storm or calm.
The third piece is "I Sing the Birth" based on text by Ben Johnson. It was first published in 1923 and listed as Christmas carol SATB unaccompanied. Below it is performed by the Rodolfus Choir under the direction of Ralph Allwood.
The last piece we mention is of course Elgars most performed "Christmas piece" which is "The Snow" Op. 26 (1894). The text is also by C. Alice Elgar and is not necessary Christmas, but certainly winter and song has crept into many a Christmas album and Christmas choir concert. It is especially popular with children's choirs. It has some similarity to "A Christmas Greeting" though the orchestrations give a more winter and "cold" feel. "A Christmas Greeting" is the younger piece (1908). Below is the University of Utah's Women's Chorus:
"The Snow" Op.26
Elgar wrote arraignments of "The Snow" for piano, two violins, and SSA, as well an arraignment for same but with orchestra. It is among Elgar's earlier compositions.
Elgar also has an 1898 arraignment of "The Holly and the Ivy" of which we are still looking for a recording or video.
UPDATE January 12, 2023: We were listening to an episode of The Choral Chihuahua Podcast December 22, 2022 episode, and it was mentioned Elgar's "Holly and the Ivy" was played on BBC Radio 3's Essential Classics with Georgia Man. You can hear the episode, with Elgar's "Holly and Ivy" being the third piece played by going to this link:
The Elgar piece from 1898 is rarely performed and has been rarely recorded. We posted it on our Instagram Page and tagged many ensembles hoping to spur them to record it. The BBC Radio 3 audio will only be available until January 18, 2022.
Elgar also has a lullaby like song, "A Child Asleep" (1910) on the text by Elizabeth Barret Brown. It is not necessary about the Christ child, but can be used for a Christmas concert or recording. Below is Catherine Wyn-Rogers performing it:
"A Child Asleep"
Elgar also has a lullaby in From the Bavarian Highlands: "3. Lullaby."
"3. Lullaby"
"IX. Nimrod" Op. 36 (1899) from Elgar's Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma) has also sneaked its way into many a Christmas concert, especially as an opening piece for an orchestra who will be accompanying the choir for most of a concert.
Elgar composed many great sacred music works including his Three motets / anthems Op. 2 (1887) which include "Ave verum corpus," "Ave maria," and "Ave Maris Stella"; "Jesu, Meek and Lowly"; hisTe Deum and Benedictus Op. 34 (1897); The Apostles Op. 39; "O Hearken Thou" Op. 64 based on Psalm 5; "Great is the lord" Op. 67 bases on Psalm 48; among others.
Disclaimer: Regarding, the heading photo used above, we do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended, it is used for educational purposes only. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of any photo on this blog in compliance with the DMCA
Cecilia McDowall: Commissioned for Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
King's College, Cambridge announces McDowall was commissioned for a new carol for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
On November 12, 2021, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge announced on their Facebook Page that composer Cecilia McDowall had been commissioned to write the annual new carol for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carol. A press release was also released.
Since 1983, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge has commissioned a prominent composer to write a new carol to be performed at the annual Festival of Nine Lessons in Carol on Christmas Eve.
The tradition was started by the late Stephen Cleobury to continue the tradition of carol composition. The first composer commission was Lennox Berkley and the last was Phillip Moore. No composer was commission in 2020, most likely due to the world-wide pandemic.
The announcement of the new carol is often the most anticipated new carol in the choral world and we think the carol-loving world was sad that no carol was premiered last year. See"The State of the Christmas Carol: 2020."
The Christmas Carols Blog has been using King's list of past commissioned composers to explore the modern carol repertory. So far we have focused on:
Also of interest to readers is our post Working List of Choral Recording Focusing on Modern Composers Christmas Works on albums dedicated to the Christmas repertory of select composers. They include Peter Warlock, Stephen Paulus, Ola Gielo, Bob Chilcott, Ralph Vaught Williams, Michael John Trotta, Leo Sowerby, William Ferris, Paul Edwards, Leroy Anderson, Witold Lutoslawski, Alfred Burt, Gustav Holst, William Walton, John Rutter, Jacques Cohen, John Tavaner, Daniel Pickham, Samuel Pegg, and Ben Perry.
King's announced McDowell's carol would be a setting of "There is no rose."
"There is no rose," of course, is a text very famous in the carol world. According to the editors of the New Oxford Book of Carols, it is found in the "early fifteenth-century manuscript roll in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge."
Is is the last item listed in the manuscript and had original music but the original music is difficult to decipher due to manuscript decay.
The editors state, "The identification of Mary with the rose was a common medieval conceit which forms the bases of several surviving English carols and a multitude of Latin hymns." The editors state the Latin in the first three verses may be derived from the "Chirstmastide office (Introit) antiphone "Gaudeamus, omnes fedeles: Alvator noster natus est in mundum..." ("Rejoice, all we faithful, our Saviour is born into the world...").
There are also modern settings by John Joubert and Benjamin Britten among other composers.
Sources: Keyte, Hugh and Parrott, Andrew. The New Oxford Book of Carols," Oxford University Press, 1992: 28.
Disclaimer:The heading photo used above is from McDowell's website. We do not know who is the owner of this photo, and infringement is not intended. We will gladly oblige any take down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). We will also obliged to add an photographer credit. The second photo is by Karina Lyburn and is a post on the Choir of King's College, Cambridge's Facebook page and also appears to be a photo on McDowell's website also. Photos are used under the allowance made for "fair use" under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. We will obliged any takedown request of the Lyburn photo under the DMCA.
2021: Working List of New Classical Christmas Recordings
Updated October 5, 2024 with reformatting.
Compiled by R. Rojas
Note: The following are not reviews but descriptions from the record label or artists. Edits to descriptions may have been made to condense the description or make grammatical corrections. Many descriptions are cut and pasted, so our apologies for formatting that we could not correct and make congruent with the rest of the post.
All the World Tonight Rejoices
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Contemporary Christmas music
In
May 2021, the boys, girls, lay vicars and choral scholars of Truro Cathedral
Choir, under its director, Christopher Gray, embarked on recording a
full-length album – possibly the first UK cathedral choir to do so since
national lockdown began in 2020. The recording was made under social distancing
conditions, and Truro Cathedral Choir rose enthusiastically to the occasion,
their musicianship and creativity shining through while meeting the evolving
challenges of the pandemic.
Since
the first ‘Nine Lessons’ took place at Truro Cathedral on 24th December 1880,
the service has been an annual highlight, with people coming from far and wide
to experience the Christmas story told in words and music. The previous
director of music, Robert Sharpe, instigated the now-firmly-established
tradition that the choir premieres a newly-commissioned carol at this special
service each year. Over the years, this has included some of the UK’s most
gifted composers. There are several Truro commissions featured here, and seven
first recordings in a refreshingly-different collection of music for Christmas.
A Belfast Christmas. Artists: Matthew
Owens, Belfast Cathedral Choir
Belfast Cathedral Choir, Gráinne Meyer (harp), Jack Wilson (organ), Matthew Owens (conductor
& solo organ)
Choral
music has always played a significant and central role at Belfast Cathedral,
since its consecration in 1904. This strong choral tradition continues to this
day with the recently formed all-adult, fully professional vocal ensemble. This
‘new’ cathedral choir brings together some of the finest singers in Northern
Ireland who led the liturgy and worship of Belfast Cathedral and are featured
here in their debut album for Resonus Classics.
Featuring
a varied programme of seasonal carols from composers including Elizabeth
Poston, John Rutter and Philip Ledger, this album celebrates Christmas from
Northern Ireland’s national cathedral.
Best of Christmas Carols from the Choir of King College
David Briggs (organ), Robin
Barter (treble), John Bowen (treble), John Lambert (treble), Christopher Hughes
(treble), Simon Haynes (treble), Roy Robertson (treble), Graham Green (treble)
Choir of King's College Cambridge, Stephen
Cleobury
Label: Decca
Carillon At Christmas Time
Richard J Ruggiero
(Artist)
Carol of the Bells
The Sixteen (Artist) Harry Christophers (Conductor)
The Sixteen contrasts traditional with contemporary
in this choral feast of festive music. Bob Chilcott's sumptuous "Advent
Antiphons" based on ancient plainsong melodies anticipate the coming of
Christmas and feature alongside Mykola Leontovich's much-loved "Carol of the
Bells," Richard Rodney Bennett’s stunning "Susanni" and Eric Whitacre’s shimmering "Lux aurumque." Interspersed with the beautiful simplicity of traditional carols,
this is a Christmas collection to savor.
Charpentier: A Christmas Oratorio
Les Arts Florissants (Artist), William Christie (Artist)
Label:
Harmonia Mundi
A Christmas Journey
La Monnaie Children's and Youth Choirs; Benoît Giaux
Works
trad.: Coventry Carol
trad.: El Noi de la Mare
trad.: La Marche des Rois
trad.: Noël nouvelet
anon.: Puer natus est nobis
trad.: Tu scendi dalle stelle
Gruber, F: Stille Nacht
Holmès, A: Trois Anges Sont Venus ce Soir!
Tormé: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Label:Cypres
Christmas Mass St Mark 1685
Cappella Marciana (Artist), Giovanni Legrenzi (Composer), Marco Gemmani (Conductor)
Concerto Classics presents an
exclusive recording project: Christmas Mass in St. Mark 1685 with music by
Giovanni Legrenzi masterfully performed by Cappella Marciana, the oldest and
most important liturgical choir in Italy, conducted by Maestro Marco Gemmani.
The Cappella Marciana includes the choir and instrumentalists of St. Marks
Basilica, Venice, Italy. It is one of the oldest musical institutions in the
world with a flourishing musical past and a tradition marked by great
composers. Musical activities in the Basilica have been documented since the
fourteenth century.
Label:
Concerto (Naxos)
A Christmas Carol
Skylark Vocal Ensemble
In our first ever Christmas
storytelling concert, Skylark again partners with master storyteller Sarah
Walker to offer a new musical interpretation of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
Working from the original text abridged by Artistic Director Matthew Guard,
Composer Benedict Sheehan (our recent collaborator for Once Upon A Time)
has created a new concert-length story score that weaves familiar Christmas
carols into the fabric of the Dickens story. Bringing timeless carols of the
season together with the beloved characters of Charles Dickens promises to
create an unforgettable new version of a Christmas classic.
Buzz Brass inspired dreams with
this new opus, Christmas. The quintet takes the listener out of the familiar
with this majestic, elegant and refined arrangements to highlight the holiday
season. The male vocal quartet Quartom joins as guest artists in "Noël
canadien" and "The 12 days of Christmas." The ensemble's latest volume,
Inspirations, has been hailed as proof of their "testament to the
ensemble’s sensational embouchure" by the prestigious Gramophone magazine.
Since 2002, Buzz Brass quintet has been travelling all over the globe to
captivate classical music lovers. Whether its concerts consist of brass quintet
alone or together with guest musicians, the original artistic propositions it
presents leave nobody cold. With over 1,600 appearances to its credit, the
ensemble has reached more than 350,000 music lovers throughout North America,
Europe and China. The numerous awards and distinctions that Buzz Brass has
earned over the years (Opus, ADISQ, and Trille Or) attest to both the quality
and the relevance of its musical performances.
Manufacturer:
Analekta
Christmas Bells: Organ Music from Belfast Cathedral, Michael Own
For this recording Organist Matthew Owens presents a diverse recital of
some of the greatest Christmas music ever written for the instrument.
Traditional tunes, whether Lutheran chorales, plainchant, French noëls,
or medieval carols, have provided the inspiration for much Christmas
organ music throughout the years, with much of this programme made up of
pieces based on such tunes, from J.S. Bach’s Canonic variations on Vom
Himmel hoch to Louis-Claude Daquin’s Noël Suisse.
This recital also draws on more contemporary sources and presents
several world premiere recordings including Howard Skempton’s "Christmas
Bells" and Gary Davison’s Seven Versets on Divinum Mysterium, both of
which were written specially for this recording.
Tabernacle Choir (Artist), Orchestra at Temple Square (Artist)
This commemorative Christmas album contains music from fifteen years of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square's beloved Christmas concerts-an annual tradition enjoyed by millions, both live on stage and through its holiday season broadcast on PBS stations, where it has been the top-rated Christmas program for more than a decade. This new Christmas album is a collection of the best of Christmas music by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. It is the first Choir Christmas album in 15 years to feature only music by the Choir and Orchestra. The repertoire is a mix of sacred and secular Christmas music with many recognizable Christmas favorites. Designed to serve as a soundtrack for the holidays, the album provides nearly a full hour of music to enrich every music library, invite the spirit of the season, and help everyone feel closer to the divine, especially at Christmas.
Label: Intellectual Reserve
Christmas Carols with The King's Singers
Composers: Thoinot Arbeau, Johann Sebastian Bach, Hector Berlioz, James Burton, Bob Chilcott, June Collin, Henry John Gauntlett, Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann, Michael Head, Arthur Henry Mann, Gustaf Nordqvist, John Tavener, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Pierre Villette, David Willcocks, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
This brand-new Christmas album from The King’s Singers features 25 tracks covering everything from contemporary choral gems and folk songs through to well-loved carols. Dotted throughout the album are several of the most famous English church carols, which take The King’s Singers right back to their earliest singing days, and which also reflect the group’s heritage at King’s College, Cambridge. In Christmas Carols with The King’s Singers, the group bottle that frosty, moonlit, fireside Christmas wonder and pour it into their sound.
Signum US.
Christmas Dawn
Richard Blackford Manufacturer : Nimbus Records
Christmas Harp
Xavier de Maistre (Artist)
The sound of the harp, one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, has always been associated with that of other worlds and of heavenly spheres, long assuring it a place in the list of instruments that are used to perform Christmas music.
This explains why Xavier de Maistre has called his new solo album Christmas Harp and selected pieces from various areas of the repertory extending from large-scale orchestral works to famous Christmas carols all arranged for solo harp. Xavier recorded and arranged himself the famous “Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–93).
To be heard from The Nutcracker is also “The Waltz of the Flowers” in a harp transcription by the young Russian harpist and composer Alexander Boldachev. "Christmas Harp" features beautiful harp transcriptions and concert variations of the Christmas Carols "Jingle Bells," "Carol of the Bells," "O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree)," "Adeste fidelis," "We three Kings of Orient are," "It came upon the Midnight clear, Angels we have heard on High" and "O little Town of Bethlehem" as well as a transcription of the "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert (1797–1828). Most of these arrangements and variations for harp are written by Carlos Salzedo (1885–1961), who was one of the leading composers for the harp and one of the best harpists of 20th century.
Besides the harp transcriptions of the famous Christmas songs by Salzedo, Xavier also recorded Salzedo's short fantasies based on Provençal, Catalan, Basque and Neapolitan Christmas carols. Particularly delightful is Salzedo's concert variations on the carol "O Tannenbaum," where he may be said to pull out all the stops in his desire to show how much music lies hidden in this number’s apparently simple twelve bars.
Christmas In Berlin, Vol. 3
Various Artists (Artist)
Christmas In Berlin Vol. 3, features all-time favorites such as "Ave Maria," "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht," "In dulci jubilo," and many more. Performed by Berlin's famous orchestras and choirs including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Berliner Barock Solisten, and Berliner Handel-Chor. Featuring acclaimed soloists Albrecht Mayer, and Rita Streich, and conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Fritz Lehmann, and Kurt Gaebel. CD w/ 12-page booklet included.
Manufacturer : Deutsche Grammophon
Original Release Date: 2021
Christmas Piano: Martin Stadtfeld
Sony Records
A Christmas Promenade
Christiane Karg (Artist)
In a follow-up to her acclaimed album of Mahler songs, Christiane Karg takes us on a Christmas tour, in the select company of fellow music makers.
Revisiting holiday memories through the eyes of a child, but with the benefit of her superb artistry as a lieder specialist, the German soprano shines a light on some enchanting rarities of German and French repertoire, along with examples of Spanish, Basque, and Scandinavian traditions.
A treasure trove of hidden gems.
A Christmas Symphony
Jim Brickman
Jim Brickman revolutionized the sound of solo piano with pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations. With four certified gold albums he's sold more than 7 million CDs. On this cinematic new holiday album, Jim realizes his dream of recording with a symphony orchestra. The album features vocal embellishment of Kellii O'Hara (Broadway) and John Ondrasik (Five For Fighting). Enjoy traditional favorites "O Holy Night" and "What Child Is This" alongside new instrumental originals.
Universal Music Group
Christmas with Bach
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (early music ensemble), Isabelle Faust (violin), Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor), Barbara Schlick (soprano), La Chapelle Royale (early music ensemble), Dorothee Mields (soprano), Ingeborg Danz (contralto), Kristian Bezuidenhout (early keyboard instruments), Antoine Tamestit...
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (early music ensemble), Isabelle Faust (violin), Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor), Barbara Schlick (soprano), La Chapelle Royale (early music ensemble), Dorothee Mields (soprano), Ingeborg Danz (contralto), Kristian Bezuidenhout (early keyboard instruments), Antoine Tamestit (viola), Klaus Häger, Dorothea Röschmann (soprano), Les Arts Florissants (early music ensemble), Mark Padmore (tenor), Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Vasiljka Jezovšek, Ensemble Pygmalion (early music ensemble), Werner Güra (tenor), Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Xenia Löffler (oboe)
RIAS Kammerchor, Collegium Vocale Gent, René Jacobs, Bernhard Forck, Philippe Herreweghe, William Christie, Raphaël Picho
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Christmas Without Words
Camerata Tchaikovsky
Label: Orchid Classics
Colours of Christmas
Beate Strømme Fevang, Bragernes Church Youth Choir (Bragernes Kirkes Ungdomskor)
Colours of Christmas performed by the Bragernes Church Youth Choir (Bragernes Kirkes Ungdomskor) conducted by Beate Strømme Fevang is a new Christmas Album from LAWO Classics, just in time for the 2021 Holiday Season. It was recorded at the Bragernes Church in Drammen, Norway on April 27 and June 16, 2019 and May 2-3 and June 10, 2021. This recording has been made possible with support from Drammen Municipality and Eckbos Legat.
Beate Strømme Fevang says “Colours of Christmas” contains a collection of beautiful carols that arise out of the Christmas message of hope, anticipation, and joy. Together with the girls in the choir we have selected 15 carols that mean a lot to them and for which they have a special fondness.
More than half the music is Norwegian, written by composers Kim André Arnesen, Svein Møller, Tove Knutsen and Fredrik Sixten. The last-mentioned is Swedish but was formerly Director of Music of Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, where he also lives. Many of the carols have never been recorded, and in this process, we have had an exciting collaboration with several of the composers.
The tracks on the album vary between a cappella choir and choir with instrumental accompaniment. Working with the instrumentalists has been very inspiring and an enriching experience for the choir and has contributed to the growth and development of the young singers. The recordings have been made in the marvelous acoustic setting of Bragernes Church, which is the choir’s regular venue.
The recording of this Christmas album began in the spring of 2019 but stopped entirely due to COVID-19. The remaining tracks were recorded in the spring of 2021.
Colours of Christmas is exclusively available in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64 and DXD at NativeDSD Music.
Tanya Houghton, The Choir of The Magdalen College Oxford, Chamber Choir Ireland, ORA Singers, Ars Nova Copenhagen (early music ensemble), Boston Camerata (early music ensemble), Camila Parias, Deborah Rentz-Moore
Theatre of Voices, Choir of Clare College Cambridge, RIAS Kammerchor, Paul Hillier,...
Label: Harmonia Mundi
An Elizabethan Christmas: Byrd, Holborne, Gibbons, Peerson, Weelkes
Viol consort Fretwork and mezzo soprano Helen Charlston explore the more reflective and sombre Christmas celebrations of Elizabethan England, in a collection of works by William Byrd, Anthony Holborne, Orlando Gibbons and Martin Peerson.
With celebrations confined strictly to the 12 days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, the preceding Advent was regarded as a time of religious introspection, with music composed to mark both fasting and feasting. Byrd’s consort songs for voice and 5 viols encompass this range, from the joyous Out of the Orient Crystal Skies – ending with an exuberant ‘Falantidingdido’, a word whose meaning is lost to history – to his Lullaby, a ‘song of sadnes and pietie’ that became one of Byrd’s most enduringly famous songs.
In 2021, Fretwork celebrates its 35th anniversary. In the past three and a half decades they have explored the core repertory of great English consort music, from Taverner to Purcell, and made classic recordings against which others are judged. In addition to this, Fretwork have become known as pioneers of contemporary music for viols, having commissioned over 40 new works.
Acclaimed for her musical interpretation, presence and “warmly distinctive tone” (The Telegraph), Helen Charlston is quickly cementing herself as a key performer in the next generation of British singers. Helen won first prize in the 2018 Handel Singing Competition and was a finalist in the Hurn Court Opera Competition, and the Grange Festival International Singing Competition.
Signum UK
Es gibt so wunderweisse nachte
A compilation of the most beautiful winter - and Christmas poems by Eduard Mörike, Joseph von Eichendorff, Theodor Fontane, Wilhelm Busch and others. This release with the wonderful texts and atmospheric zither music for Christmas, is certainly suitable to meet our hectic and often stressful Christmas season with a moment of peace and contemplation. As much as one perceives the zither mainly in folk music, one is even more surprised by the manifold possibilities of this instrument, which can be heard on the present recording. In its fine and atmospheric sound, the zither interweaves with the lyrics in an almost ideal way.
Excelsis: A Dark Noel
Various Artists
Spend the season right with 13 dark holiday classics of untraditional fare. Turn down the lights... it's a dark noel!
Projekt's 1995 holiday compilation is the one that started it all! A dark holiday classic!
Remastered edition. 15,000+
sold on original CD edition.
Dark holiday tracks from all
your favorites. Spend the holidays in style this year. No more barking dogs or
Perry Como for you, uh-uh! While away the frigid hours until the important day
with strains of Black Tape For A Blue Girl's "Chanukkah, Oh
Chanukkah," Lycia's darkly sensual "We Three Kings," Love
Spirals Downwards' "Welcome Christmas" (from the Grinch Who Stole
Christmas), or Faith and the Muse's pagan madrigal "A Winter
Wassail." All graced by our lovely Dark Angel prepared to brighten many a
dark holiday night. Spend the season right, this year. Turn down the lights . .
. it's a dark noel!
The Fort Lauderdale
Sun-Sentinel, 1995: This coven of gothic artists does emphasize the night in
"Silent Night" and other seasonal songs on this intriguing set.
Eerie, trance-like reworkings of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and
"Carol of the Bells" seem to urge deep, Druid thought, not dread.
Consider this a good time to go commune with the gargoyle statuary at your
local cathedral.
The Boston Phoenix 1995:
"Various luminaries of goth, including Lycia, and This Ascension, cover
traditional holiday fare. Love Spirals Downward applies a Cocteau Twins-like
sound. Faith & the Muse lend their Renaissance rendition of "A Winter
Wassail." BlackTape's "Chanukkah O Chanukkah" brims with dark
gothic overtones. For balance, there are a few more-traditional
renditions" This is the perfect Xmas album to play for friends and family
to make the holiday just a wee bit weird."
HUH #16: "More the work of
monks than moshers, the emphasis on spacey, ethereal vocals makes this seem
like This Mortal Coil on an eggnog bender, and that's not a bad thing. The
prettiest of the lot, this is a beautiful collection of tracks for trimming the
tree or burning your own yule log."
CD in 6-panel digipak.
Remastered.
Track Listing:
Arcanta - Carol of the Bells
Love Spirals Downwards - Welcome Christmas (from Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch
Stole Christmas)
Thanatos - O Come All Ye Faithful
This Ascension - Carol of the Bells
Area - O Come Emmanuel
Thanatos - The First Noel
Lovesliescrushing - Jingle Bells (Snowblower)
Balderas & Osborne - What Child Is This?
Black tape for a blue girl - Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah
Lycia; The Unquiet Void - We Three Kings
Faith and the Muse - A Winter Wassail
Autopsia - Stille Nacht (g)RAVE remix
Attrition - Silent Night
· Manufacturer :
Projekt Records
Festive Trumpets for Christmas
Matthias Hofs (Artist), Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni
(Composer)
If there’s one thing that makes Christmas what it is, it’s
festive music and uplifting melodies: “Festive Trumpets for Christmas” is the
new Christmas album from Matthias Höfs, to be released by Berlin Classics on
November 5. On this new album, the trumpeter joins his brass ensemble and
organist Christian Schmitt in a wide-ranging program. The instruments of the
musicians ring out in triumphal tones, brilliantly nuanced, capturing the joy
and splendor of the Christmas festival. There are works by Albinoni, Handel,
Vivaldi, Morales and Scheidt, along with arrangements by Peter Lawrence,
Nikolaus Herman and Matthias Höfs himself. In this programme, Matthias Höfs
appears with a variety of ensemble formations, whether with trumpet quartet,
with horn, trombone and tuba, or with bassoon, harpsichord and organ – amply
portraying the differing characteristics of the instruments and their richness
of timbre. The sensitivity with which the musicians listen to one another, for
fine shading of the interpretation, creates an atmosphere of touching intimacy,
of concentration on the heart of the Christmas message: Unto us a child is
born. Höfs aims to convey the German tradition as such, both in sound and
style: “In the age of globalization, in which everything is geared to international
exchange, I should like to make my contribution to the preservation of this
typical sound and culture.” The program reflects his wish.
Hanna Herfurtner (Artist), Carola Gunther (Artist), Mirko Ludwig (Artist), Fabian Strotmann (Artist), Peter Kooij (Artist), Georg Philipp Telemann (Composer), Michael Alexander Willens (Conductor)
CPO RECORDS
Gaudete: Carols & Organ Music Choir of Clifton
Cathedral; Ian Ball; Catherine Snelson; David Ogden
The word Carol once meant to dance in a ring and as such came into
use to describe song that is also religious in impulse, not necessarily
connected with Christmas. Evidence of these origins can be seen from
Gaudete (meaning Rejoice) to Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, each
contribution through the ages revealing its views of the majesty and
beauty of the story of Christmas. Britten's Ceremony of Carols forms the
central part of this recording binding together strands of modern
thinking, ancient melody (plainsong from the Vespers of the Nativity)
and folksong through the old modes. Additionally, through Baroque and
Victorian music, we discover that the very concept of Christmas
undergoes constant reinterpretation and that this is reflected in the
music of the time. It is hoped that the listener will find something new
or revealing in this recording and that they will rejoice at
Christmastide.
Heinrich Schutz: Historia Nativitatis Swv 435
Ensemble Polyharmonique
Forthcoming: Jan. 22
Label: CPO
Herrnhuter Weihnacht Moravian Christmas
Vocal Concert Dresden, Peter Kopp, Dresdner Instrumental-Concert
Peter Kopp and his Vocal Concert Dresden have long since made a name for themselves with their releases on disc of highly interesting and hitherto little regarded compilations and programmes.
Following works from the Dresden court and Venetian gems, the most recent release was Masonic music of the 18th century. The latest project, then, is the music of the Moravian Brethren. The Brotherhood’s historical merit and international significance, radiating out from a picturesque village in Saxony across the whole world, will be celebrated at its tercentenary next year; in the meantime, it is working on being acknowledged by UNESCO as part of the world’s Cultural Heritage together with the Moravian Brothers in Bethlehem (PA, US) and Gracehill (UK).
Persecuted in their homeland of Bohemia and Moravia, the early Reformation fellowship of “Bohemian Brethren” founded a settlement “unter des Herren Hut” (under the protection of the Lord) in 1722 on the estate of Count Zinzendorf in Upper Lusatia.
By so doing, they laid the foundation for a community of faith that flourishes to this day and for a movement that has grown into an international network. Very soon, other communities were being founded elsewhere: from London to Berlin, in Holland, Denmark, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, on Greenland and in the Caribbean.
The Brotherhood was from the start a singing community. “Singing sessions”, “sermons in song” and new compositions by the musicians of Herrnhut played an important part alongside a creative and undogmatic approach to congregational hymns.
For instance, instead of singing the consecutive verses of individual songs, they combined thematically related verses or even odd lines of different songs, which the congregation evidently knew more or less by heart.
“The Herrnhuters have Musicians on all Instruments among them, who may in part pass for Virtuosos, and one will not find Music as sound as this in many a Princely Chapel,” says a contemporary account.
Emigration and missions to North America by the Brethren have left a fascinating store of music there, and this is now regarded as one of the fundamental building-blocks of North American music history. In the 18th and early 19th century, one might encounter good music from Europe in the settlements of the Moravian community, which thus served as a musical bridge between Europe and the New World.
This link is noteworthy for the fact that even compositions written in remote regions were brought back to Germany and added to the local repertoire. This must have been absolutely unique to the Herrnhut movement in the 18th century.
The programme is the result of intensive research in the archives of the Moravian Brotherhood in Upper Lusatia and also overseas. Almost all works are world premiere recordings, which in some cases had to be reconstructed.
Peter Kopp, long-serving director of the Dresden Kreuzkirche choir, now Rector of the Lutheran College for Church Music in Halle (Saale), has therefore joined with the Vocal Concert Dresden, the Dresdner Instrumental-Concert and other guest musicians to give an unique insight into the Moravian music of the 18th and early 19th centuries and thus provide a fascinating illustration of a regional music tradition that went on to acquire international relevance.
Apart from its high repertoire value, this recording is notable for its presentation of festive Christmas music. Lovers of Baroque music for the Christmas season will be as enthusiastic as listeners who hope to enlarge their musical spectrum.
Drawing on a wide variety of sources, mingling liturgical
Latin with French, English, Italian and Iberian vernaculars, these magnificent
songs, hymns and processionals show the multitude of ways in which the birth of
Christ was celebrated in medieval times. The trio of female singers is
accompanied by harp, fiddle, bells and wind instruments: together they
touchingly evoke all the tenderness, hope and joy of medieval Christmas songs.
Holy Boy: Christmastide In Albion
Dickinson, Timothy / Honeybourne, Duncan
(Artist)
In the Bleak Midwinter: Christmas Carols from King's
The Choir of King's College Cambridge (Artist), Daniel Hyde (Artist)
In the Bleak Midwinter reflects a Christmas that was unlike any other in
recent history. Much of the music on this album was heard around the
world as part of the 103rd Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a
service that has been broadcast live every year since 1930. But for
Christmas Eve 2020, the continuation of this uniquely long-running
tradition was not to be. A full service, with lessons, carols, organ
voluntaries and prayers, had been recorded in an empty Chapel for use in
the event that a live broadcast became impossible, and it was this that
was called upon just days before Christmas Eve. For its millions of
listeners, the broadcast meant the continuation of a Christmas tradition
in a year when so many were without their friends and family, and
without so much of what makes Christmas special. Music from Christmas
Eve is supplemented on this album by a selection of specially recorded
tracks. It marks not only a moment of light in a time of considerable
darkness for so many, but the beginning of a new era for the Choir of
King's College under the direction of Daniel Hyde, with this his first
full album at King's since his appointment in 2019.
Label: King's College
In Dulci Jubilo: Michael Pretorius (1571-1621): Christmas Choir Book
1. A Pagan Savior. 2.In the sweet pleasure of 3. There is a voice to wake up. 4. The Star of Akatsuki no Shimaku. 5. My soul honors the Lord 6. Come to the high heaven. 7. One rose blooms
Southwest Germany Broadcast Vocal Ensemble Marcus Creed (Director)
Recording March 4-5, 2020 SWR Funkstudio, Stuttgart, Germany
Composer
Michael Pretorius, who lived in Germany, from the 16th to the 17th
century. The musae sioniae Scion music from over 1000 collars and
admiration songs he wrote "Musae sioniae Scion" is known for its
development and spread of protestant admirations. In this album you
choose the Christmas admiration from his vast collection and hear the
southwest German broadcast vocal ensemble commanded by Marcus Creed.
Most songs are written using two (bicinia) or three (tricinia) voices,
so every piece of voice can be enjoyed with intricate opposite
directions.
I sing of a Maiden: Five New Carols by John Rutter
John Roberts (oboe), Jonathan Brown (bass-baritone), Grace Davidson (soprano)
Cambridge Singers, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, JohnFiv Rutter
Label: Collegium
It Feels Like Christmas
Vitamin String Quartet (Artist)
This holiday season, Vitamin String Quartet-the group behind the
Bridgerton soundtrack-is set to release It Feels Like Christmas.
Featuring reimagined yuletide pop standards ["All I Want For Christmas"
(Mariah Carey), "Santa Tell Me" (Ariana Grande), "Last Christmas"
(Wham!), "Mistletoe" (Justin Bieber), and more], this collection is sure
to become a treasured holiday favorite for years to come.
Label: Decca
It's Christmas! - Extended Version
Jonas Kaufman
An extended Christmas album from Jonas Kaufmann, one of the world's most acclaimed and celebrated tenors. As ever, Kaufmann shows his versatility across 49 songs from around the world, covering an impressive variety of languages and musical styles ranging from church hymns, swinging jazz band numbers, pop hits through to intimate folksongs accompanied by charming folksong ensemble.
Sony
Light for the World: Winder Meditation Mix
Juliette Pochin (keyboards), James Morgan (keyboards)
Poor Clares of Arundel
Label: Decca
Little Christmas
St. Florianer Sangerknaben (Artist), Traditional (Composer), n/a (Conductor)
Since 1071, the St. Florianer Sängerknaben (St. Florian Boys' Choir) has
been one of the most traditional of the renowned boys' choirs in
Europe, to which Anton Bruckner belonged at the time. For centuries, one
of the core tasks of the choir has been to provide music for the church
services at St. Florian's Abbey in Linz, but today the boys also give
concerts all over the world, always with overwhelming success. The album
with well-known, but also lesser-known international Christmas carols
contains recordings with their long-time director Franz Farnberger,
which were made between 1998 and 2021 and thus vividly document the
consistently high level of this boys' choir.
Label: Ars Produktion
Love Came Down at Christmas Malcom and Archie
A unique collection of Christmas songs from the UK and
Europe premiering the title track by the three-time Olivier award winning
composer, Michael Haslam and featuring many treble duet arrangements written
especially for
Myron and Archie.
Masters of this Hall, Choir of Exeter College Oxford: Carols Ancient and Modern
A Minstrel’s Christmas
English, German, Czech, French, Austrian Carols from many periods
“Opening vivaciously, this collection simulates a visiting village group
with pleasing simplicity …Many highlights from Deller himself, on
magical form here” (Penguin Guide)
Label: Alto
Noel
Ensemble Vocal Arts-Quebec, Matthias Maute
ATMA Classique is proud to collaborate with Ensemble vocal
Arts-Quebec and Mecenat Musica on ART CHORAL, a unique and ambitious
project surveying the history of choral singing over six centuries, from
the Renaissance to the present day. Consisting of 11 volumes, the
series will roll out over the next three years and will feature works by
50 composers from the 16th to the 21st centuries, as well as 11 webcast
concerts and 120 videos.
The first ART CHORAL release is dedicated to Christmas. Traditional
songs from France, England and Germany, such as Holy Night, Adeste
Fideles, Joy to the world, or Es ist ein Ros entspruggen are paired with
Francis Poulenc's Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noel.
Ensemble vocal Arts-Quebec is a professional choir whose mission is
to present the great tradition of choral singing in Quebec, Canada, and
abroad. Following almost 40 years of leadership by founder Yves
Courville, in 2018 the choir appointed two-time JUNO Award winner
Matthias Maute as its artistic director.
The Ensemble received the Opus Award for Musical Event of the Year in
2020. Matthias Maute has achieved international renown as a conductor,
recorder and flute player, and composer. Mr. Maute is esteemed for his
artistic direction of Ensemble Caprice, for whom he produces ingenious,
fascinating programs.
An Oxford Christmas
Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (Artist),
Joshua Ryan (Artist), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), William Vann (Conductor)
Albion Records
This recording focusses on arrangements made by Vaughan Williams for
The Oxford Book of Carols (1928), coupled with two later carols
published by OUP. Many of the tunes are far from well-known and deserve a
new audience. We think 10 of the 22 tracks are first recordings but
reserve the right to have overlooked one or two amidst the vast but very
mixed heritage of recorded carols.
The preface to The Oxford Book of Carols tells us that: 'Variety in
the method of singing is even more important than with hymns, and the
verses should never be sung straight through all in the same way.' In
this spirit the choir's director, William Vann, has prepared the carols
for recording with a mixture of accompanied, unaccompanied and solo
verses. Few of these carols are likely to have been undertaken by a
congregation; this recording by a choir of distinguished professional
singers presents the carols at their best, supported by the Henry Willis
organ of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, in half of the carols.
As always, full texts are included, and detailed notes on the carols
are preceded by an essay about The Oxford Book of Carols by Jeremy
Summerly.
This is a companion album to ALBCD035 A Vaughan Williams Christmas,
which proved outstandingly popular. We hope that this will provide every
bit as much enjoyment.
Radiant Dawn
Elora Singers
Rheinberger: der Stern von Bethlehem Op. 164
Dilec Gecer, Michael Junge, Vogtland Philharmonie, Universitatschor Dresden, Stefan Fraas
Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger is one of those late Romantic composers
who enjoyed extraordinary popularity during his lifetime, but whose
works are largely forgotten today. In 1890 Rheinberger wrote one of his
most personal and soulful works, the Christmas cantata Der Stern von
Bethlehem for soloists, choir and orchestra, for which his wife, the
then-published poet Franziska von Hoffnaass, had written the text.
The cantata premiered on December 24, 1892, at the Kreuzkirche in
Dresden and soon became one of Rheinberger's best-known and most
beautiful oratorical creations.
His nine Advent Motets were written in 1893, composed as a
contribution to the traditional cultivation of the chants of the church
service, which changed according to the church year.
These motets are assigned to the liturgy of the four Sundays of Advent and form a coherent cycle for the Advent season.
River
Seraphim & Cherubin Chorus
A labour of love through turbulent times, River bring us back together through music. Recorded through the fall of 2021, River is the Saraphim & Cherubim Chorus' sophomore album and follow up to the 2020 10th Anniversary Christmas on Record. Celebrate this year with River. Purchase at Seraphim & Cherubin's SHOP.
Romantic Christmas Music From Cologne Cathedral
Theresa Nelles (soprano), Winfried Bnig (piano)
Soprano Theresa Nelles and cathedral organist Winfried Bonig invite
us to an atmospheric Christmas Eve in Cologne Cathedral. This new
recording presents a varied programme of Romantic works from various
countries: music for the feast that goes straight to the heart.
The great acoustics of Cologne Cathedral have been deliberately captured on this audiophile SACD.
Label: Aeolus
Sachsische Weihnacht
Praetorius / Guttler (Artist)
Manufacturer
:
Berlin Classics
Sancta Nox: Christmas Matins
from Bavaria
Unabridged
Seminarians of Saint Peter Wigratzbad(Artist, Performer), Gwilym H.T. Evans(Conductor)
For connoisseurs of beautiful Christmas music, this is a
must-have for the collection. Sancta Nox: Christmas Matins from Bavaria by the
Seminarians of Saint Peter Wigratzbad brings you a taste of heaven for your
most deeply felt Christmas moments-presented by a group hailing from the
majestic Alps in Germany's Bavaria region. Be transported by the peaceful
sounds of Christmas Matins through Gregorian Chant and polyphonic gems. Also
included is an ethereal rendition of a multi-lingual Silent Night. Reminiscent
of the chanting monks of old, the choir of the Seminarians of Saint Peter
Wigratzbad recorded this music in the historic St. Magnus Abbey of Bad
Schussenried, built in the 12th century. 'Tis the season to expand your
playlist-enjoy this exquisite a capella Christmas repertoire!
The International Seminary of St. Peter in
Wigratzbad, Germany, was the first seminary founded by the Priestly Fraternity
of St. Peter, its first house established canonically and the site of its
General House. It is situated on the ancient frontier of Bavaria and Swabia, a
short distance from Germany’s borders with neighbouring Austria and
Switzerland. It is less than twenty kilometers from the renowned island city of
Lindau on Lake Constance at the foot of the Alps.
Scattered Light in Winter
Westminster Williamson Voices
A
year ago, Westminster Williamson Voices joined a consortium called “The
Scattered Light Consortium” along with Jo-Michael Scheibe at USC (the
USC Thornton Chamber Singers) and Jamie Glasgow (The Glasgow School of
Art Choir). I was attracted to the concept not only because of the
composers who are dear friends, but because the pieces were set to poems
by one of America’s greatest poets, Dana Gioia. When the two works
arrived from composer Sarah Rimkus and Thomas LaVoy, I had, as they say,
“the wind knocked out of me.” While both poems could be interpreted
using a broader life perspective, they spoke to me and the choir in ways
that were immediately deep and profound. Both poems provide light and
hope to all of us who are living through this change at Westminster into
something unknown. And then, shortly after this recording was
completed, the pandemic struck, and we were in isolation from our
music-making family. We were thankful that we were able to complete this
recording.
All of
the music on the CD reflects our hope for the future as we climb a
crooked ladder leading to, hopefully, a brighter new time for our
beloved college, and our lives beyond the pandemic. Our desire is to see
a glimmer of light behind what seems a very closed door. This CD offers
music for personal reflection, with the hope that these sounds can
provide for each of us “scattered” new light.
CONTENTS: In the Bleak Midwinter, Steve Pilkington • Kit Smart's Carol, Gerald Custer • Improvisation on Coventry Carol, Sam Scheibe, Christian Koller, Guillermo Passarin, Alex Tomlinson • Solitude, James Whitbourn • The Stars Now Rearrange Themselves, Thomas LaVoy • The Burning Ladder, Sarah Rimkus • Salvation to All That Will Is Nigh, Anthony Maglione • Brightest and Best, Sarah Rimkus • Coventry Carol, John Frederick Hudson • Magnificat, Peter Relph • Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Sam Scheibe.
Kevin Puts: Silent Night (opera in Two Acts, Libretto By
Mark Campbell)
Tomas Luis de Victoria: Missa Magnum Mysterium; Francisco De Penalo: Magnificat, Motets
A St. Olaf Christmas: Go Tell It on the Mountain 5
Manufacturer
:
St. Olaf Records
Original Release Date
:
2021
Date first available: 2006
Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols, Vol. II Caitriona O'Leary, Seth Lakeman, John Smith, Clara Sanabras
& Stile Antico (Artist)
Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols, Vol. II brings together folk,
classical and traditional music luminaries to present Irelandâ''s
greatest Christmas music.
Produced by Ethan Johns featuring
vocals by Caitriona Oâ''Leary, Seth Lakeman, John Smith, Clara Sanabras
& Stile Antico with Instrumentalists Alison Balsom, Olov Johansson,
Simone Collavecchi & Others.
The Wexford Carols are
Irelandâ''s greatest Christmas music and perhaps the most important body
of Christmas carols in English yet to be introduced to the public. In
2014 Heresy Records released The Wexford Carols to international
acclaim. The album reached #1 on both the Billboard and Amazon charts.
The first Wexford Carols release focused on the well-known episodes of
the Christmas story and took a stylistic approach that integrated Irish
traditional music with Americana.
Strange Wonders, The Wexford
Carols Vol. II, presents the highly anticipated follow up to the
previous album. The new album features 11 carols from the Waddinge and
Deveraux collections that focus on the spiritual and mystical aspects of
the Christmas story and also some less-familiar aspects of this
narrative including carols about the lives of saints whose feast days
fall within the 12 days of Christmas (24th December â'' 6th January).
These includes carols on St. Stephen, St. John, St. Sylvester and the
Holy Innocents.
Producer Ethan Johns has adopted an intimate
interpretation of these remarkable and moving carols that integrates
early music, folk music and classical styles.
1. Ye Sons of Men 2. The Darkest Midnight in December - 3. This Great Mysterie (aka This Christmass Day you Pray Me Sing) 4. On Christmas Night All Christians Sing 5. The Night of the Nativity 6. St. Stephen had an Angel’s Face 7. On St. Stephen’s Day (aka This is St. Stephen's Day) 8. A Carol for St. John’s Day 9. Hail ye Flow’rs of Martyrs 10. This Feast of St. Sylvester 11. The Enniscorthy Christmas Carol
Manufacturer :
Heresy Records
Vidimus Glriam Eius
Luceat Choir/James Fellows
A complete liturgical recording of the traditional service for
Christmas, combining old and new Carols with Lessons read by members of
the Oxford Vaccine Group.
Label: Willowhayne Records
Weihnachtslieder / Christmas Songs
Violoncello A Deux, Uta Schlichtig & Birgit Heinemann
Winter Songs: Vocal Music of Robert Paterson
Founded in New York City in 2005, AME has been a dynamic,
creative force in the American new music scene. With a world-class ensemble
made up of NYC's finest musicians, AME is "simply 'first-rate" (The
New York Times). AME has performed and premiered over 135 works by over 120
living American composers in venues ranging from Lincoln Center to Galapagos
Arts Space, and has "consistently demonstrated a flair for inventive
programming" (Steve Smith, Time Out New York). AME programs both cutting
edge and traditional works, presenting unique, engaging events that encourage
dialogue between artists and audiences. AME is committed to that connection:
over 90% of the composers whose works have been programmed by AME have attended
our concerts. Sold out crowds at Merkin Hall, Dimenna Center, the Rubin Museum,
The TimesCenter and many other venues are a winning testament to AME's
tremendous fan base and ever-expanding popularity.
In 2012-13 AME was the ensemble-in-residence at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, and AME tours and offers educational outreach programs. Recent collaborations include the
Dance Theater of Harlem and Talujon percussion ensemble.
CAPTCHA - I. duchenp fled
CAPTCHA - II. Henry falutch
CAPTCHA - III. youJusto nicely
CAPTCHA - IV. Voix gustroor
CAPTCHA - V. Secretary metadon
Winter Songs - I. Icicles Filled the Long Window
Winter Songs - II. Dark Day, Warm and Windy
Winter Songs - III. The Snow Man
Winter Songs - IV. Boy at The Window
Winter Songs - V. Old Story
Winter Songs - VI. Neither Snow
Eating Variations - 1. My Body, a Temple
Eating Variations - 2. The Hog
Eating Variations - 3. Even the Dyspeptic Must Eat
Eating Variations - 4. The Dietary Moralist
Eating Variations - 5. The Happy Medium
Thursday - 1. Introduction
Thursday - 2. 9:15 a.m.
Thursday - 3. 10:42 a.m.
Thursday - 4. 5:09 p.m.
Thursday - 5. 6:05 p.m.
Thursday - 6. 6:15 p.m.
Batter's Box - 1. Batting Practice
Batter's Box - 2. Catching
Batter's Box - 3. Rain Delay
Batter's Box - 4. At Bat
Batter's Box - 5. Postgame Interview
Winter Tales
Various Artists (Artist)
In late 2020, Deutsche Grammophon invited some of the label's composers
to reimagine holiday music. The result was 12 personal responses to that
creative challenge, all of which have something fresh and timely to say
about winter's promise of renewal and light's power over darkness.
Featuring Roger & Brian Eno, Peter Gregson, V¡kingur Olafsson, Hania
Rani & Dobrawa Czocher, Balmorhea, Mari Samuelsen, Ane Brun, Dustin
O'Halloran & Bryan Senti, ABBOTT, Vanbur, Classical Sundays and
Joep Beving.
Deutsche Grammophon
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