2012: Working List of Classical & Choral Christmas and Winter Recordings

2012: Working List of Classical & Choral Christmas and Winter Recordings

The descriptions below are those of record labels or the ensembles and are 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. We will be adding some link where they have been left off, as well as adding tracks, as we get the information. If we missed your new recording, email us at: christmascarolblog@gmail.com.

Updated: Oct. 18, 2024

The first of its kind, charged with joy, and graced with angelic blend of voices, this release captures in song the spirit of hope and expectation of Advent. This unique CD is recorded by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles: A young, monastic order of Sisters located in rural Missouri, dedicated to prayer for priests. Advent at Ephesus includes an amazing variety of traditional Latin and English hymns, polyphony, Gregorian Chant, medieval harmonies and an original piece to prayerfully lead you through the sacred season in preparation for Christmas.

1	Veni Redemptor Gentium
2	Angelus Ad Virginem
3	Regnantem Sempiterna
4	Gabriel's Message
5	Creator Alme Siderum
6	Hayl Mary, Ful of Grace
7	Rorate Caeli
8	Praeparate Corda Vestra
9	O Come O Come Emmanuel
10	Benedixisti Domine
11	Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
12	Alma Redemptoris Mater
13	Adjuvabit Eam
14	Venez Divin Messie
15	Vox Clara Ecce Intonat
16	Like the Dawning

The beginning of Advent is celebrated with a particular solemnity at Merton. For its second recording, the choir explores the musical riches that adorn this most special time in the church year, centring on a newly commissioned sequence of Magnificat antiphons from seven leading composers including Howard Skempton, Ēriks Ešenvalds and Sir John Tavener.

The mingled hopes, fears and expectations of the season are beautifully articulated by this fervent body of young singers.

https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/dcd34122?_pos=12&_sid=132e7e903&_ss=r

Stephen Layton leads the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge and the Holst Singers in two of Benjamin Britten's most popular choral works for Christmastide. The cantata Saint Nicolas tells the story of the original Santa Claus, a fourth-century saint whose altruistic acts led to his canonization as patron saint of children and sailors. Britten's lively setting is distinctly operatic, full of atmosphere and color - with the story brought 'home' through the use of congregational hymns. The part of Nicolas (here sung magnificently by Allan Clayton, already acclaimed as the heir to Peter Pears and Anthony Rolfe Johnson) is one of Britten's great heroic tenor roles. A Ceremony of Carols is a setting for treble voices and harp of some of the Medieval texts that Britten loved so much, and is heard every Christmas in cathedrals, churches and concert halls throughout the world. This fresh, sparkling performance completes a thoroughly festive release.

Hyperion

1 Procession (A Ceremony of Carols)
2 Wolcum Yole!
3 There Is Not Rose
4 That Yonge Childe
5 Balulalow
6 As Dew in Aprille
7 This Little Babe
8 Interlude
9 In Freezing Winter Night
10 Spring Carol
11 Deo Gracias
12 Recession
13 Introduction (Saint Nicolas)
14 The Birth of Nicolas
15 Nicolas Devotes Himself to God
16 He Journeys to Palestine
17 Nicolas Comes to Myra and Is Chosen Bishop
18 Nicolas from Prison
19 Nicolas and the Pickled Boys
20 His Piety and Marvellous Works
21 The Death of Nicolas

Hyperion

Rondeau Production

Since the mid-19th century, the Medieval carol Orientis partibus has been popularly known as "The Song of the Ass." It tells the story of the donkey on which Mary rode into Bethlehem and was apparently sung as part of the Epiphany celebrations at Beauvais, France, from the Middle Ages until at least the 17th century. 

Six stanzas survive in a 13th-century manuscript, each with slight musical variants, and another four stanzas in other manuscripts of the period. Our performance presents music to the entire song as it appears in the original manuscript, but we use the delightful rhyming English translation by Henry Copley Greene. 

Dating from around the same time, but from across the Channel, is "Gabriel from Heven King," which exists also in Latin as "Angelus ad virginem," a title mentioned in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (sung by Nicholas the Clerk in "The Miller's Tale"). 

The song tells of the dialog between Mary and the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation; we highlight the dialog by having men sing Gabriel's part and women sing Mary's. The Middle English text is slightly hard to follow, so we are fortunate that the Romantic poet Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-89) made a rendering of it that has formed the basis of our singing version. The musical text is taken from two manuscripts of the 14th century. 

From the next century in England come several Christmas songs in a popular form for lyric works at the time-the carol. So common did the use of this form become for Christmas works that nowadays we use the term "carol" to denote a Christmas song, although it did not originally have that connotation. The typical carol uses a refrain, or "burden," alternating with verses. 

Another feature of these delightful English carols is their "macaronic" text, that is, lyrics that move back and forth between Latin and English. They also all feature use of a fauxbourdon texture, where the outer voices are frequently in parallel at a distance of a sixth, and the middle voice is a fourth below the top. This texture of sweet, parallel first-inversion triads is strongly associated with late-Medieval polyphony, and seems related to what the French writer Martin le Franc referred to c.1440 as "La contenance angloise"-the English Guise. 

An English carol from the early 16th century, "Quid petis, o fili?" survives as the most substantial musical work in a manuscript copied for the court of Henry VIII. Like the earlier Gabriel from Heven King, it uses imagined details and dialog to tell a story. Here, the long, Latin "burden" for the chorus alternates with florid soloists' verses in English describing Mary interacting tenderly with the baby Jesus. 

Next are two works from a collection of anonymous villancicos printed in Venice in 1556 with a special section of Christmas songs. The sole surviving copy is in the University Library in Uppsala, Sweden, so it has been dubbed the Cancionero de Upsala. In "E la don don," monophonic verses for men alternate with a polyphonic refrain sung by the full group. 

"Dadme albricias" features soprano solos and duets with tenor, alternating with the chorus. Palestrina's "A solis ortus cardine" is a setting of a chant hymn for Christmas morning at the service of Lauds. The chant follows the contour of the well-known Gregorian melody, but the composer puts it in a different mode (Dorian, rather than Phrygian), which we have used in this performance. 

Palestrina's setting uses alternatim technique, where verses of the chant alternate with polyphonic verses variously for three, four, and ultimately five voices. It was published in 1589, during which time Palestrina was maestro di cappella at St. Peter's in Rome, but two other sources are manuscripts copied by Palestrina himself, so it seems to be a work of which he was especially fond. William Byrd's "This day Christ was born" is "A Carroll for Christmas Day" from his Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets of 1611. In keeping with Byrd's Catholic background in Protestant England, the text is a translation of the antiphon to the Magnificat for the Second Vespers of the Nativity. 

However, rather than sounding like a stately motet, it is instead in madrigal style, with angelic voices entwining, and thrilling alleluias. 

Around 1694, Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed his Messe de Minuit pour Noel (Midnight Mass for Christmas), which used popular tunes as themes for the movements of the Mass. The first Kyrie is based on the tune of "Joseph est bien marié," which, unlike some of the other tunes Charpentier borrowed, at least was originally a Christmas song to begin with! Our arrangement is based on harmonizations in the Messe de Minuit. 

One lovely French Christmas song that did not make it into Charpentier's Mass-probably because it wasn't yet composed-is "Quelle est cette odeur agréable?" It appeared around 1700; by 1728, it had been hijacked by John Gay as the melody for the drinking song "Fill every glass" from his ballad-based Beggar's Opera. 

"Tous les bourgeois de Châtre" is also from the Messe de Minuit, appearing in a modified form in the Gloria. Charpentier also did more straightforward arrangements of it as a "noel"-a Christmas work for organ solo or for an ensemble of instruments-and those have formed the basis of our harmonization. Jakob Handl (also known as "Gallus") was born in Slovenia and worked mainly in Austria before spending his last few years in Prague. His "Canite tuba in Sion," based on an Office antiphon for the 4th Sunday of Advent, features an unusual scoring for low voices in close counterpoint. It was published in 1586 in the first volume of Handl's monumental four-volume edition of his own motets. 

The next four works were published in the 1582 Latin collection, Piæ Cantiones (there was also a Finnish version published in 1616, reflecting the apparent origin of the collection). "Personent hodie," which is monophonic in the original print, appears in the Oxford Book of Carols in an arrangement by Gustav Holst (which is what I grew up with), but the 4-voice harmonization for this recording's performance is my own, based on Medieval and Renaissance contrapuntal procedures. An earlier version of the piece, entitled "Intonent hodie," survives in the 14th-century Moosburger Graduale. 

"Puer natus in Bethlehem" is a strophic hymn based on the Introit for Christmas Day, but set in Piæ Cantiones as an unusual duo. I expanded the texture to include a four-voice arrangement, using an array of textures in the many stanzas, with solos, duos, and quartets for women and men and for both together. "Verbum caro" is another hymn based on a famous Christmas chant. This charming, lilting work is also monophonic in the original source; I harmonized it using period contrapuntal techniques. 

The vigorous "Gaudete" appears in Piæ Cantiones only as a four-voice refrain. Lyrics for the stanzas are printed in the source but there is no music for them at all, so I have created a monophonic verse and harmonized it for the last stanza to match the refrain. 

In 2011, Quire Cleveland held a competition for members of the Cleveland Composers' Guild to compose a work for performance on our annual Christmas program. "Quiet Promise" by Jennifer Conner was the winner. 

The composer explains: 'Each year at Christmas, I usually make my own cards with the message that speaks to me most that year. Being a composer, my cards have often been short compositions. Thus, several years ago I wrote a short poem entitled Quiet Promise, which I then set as a solo for piano and voice. The idea I wanted to communicate that year was the incredible simplicity, humility, and lack of fanfare behind the birth narrative, in light of the insatiable need for the spotlight that permeates our present culture. This past summer [2011] I decided to expand this poem, adding several more verses to the narrative-but still with the same thematic intent. I then set this work as a carol specifically for Quire's Christmas concerts. 

1 Out from Lands of Orient
2 Gabriel from Heaven's King
3 There Is No Rose
4 Ave Rex Angelorum
5 Nowell Sing We
6 E La Don Don
7 Dadme Albricias
8 A Solis Ortus Cardine
9 This Day Christ Was Born
10 Joseph Est Bien Mari\xE9
11 Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agr\xE9able
12 Tous Les Bourgois De Ch\xE2tre
13 Canite Tuba in Sion
14 Personent Hodie
15 Puer Natus in Bethlehem
16 Verbum Caro Factum Est
17 Gaudete
18 Quiet Promise
19 In the Bleak Midwinter
20 The Holly and the Ivy
21 A Spotless Rose

Rte Lyric Fm

A leading light in the world of youth choral music, the Rodolfus Choir is made up of choristers from ages 16-25 who are past and present participants of the Eton Choral Courses, begun by the choir’s director Ralph Allwood in 1980.

This new Christmas programme mixes the familiar with works not usually heard in carol services – such as Tomas Luis de Victoria’s stunning eight-part, two-choir Ave Maria (from an edition prepared by John Rutter), and more recent works such as Chris Chivers’ Ecce Puer and Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque. Such a programme is well-suited to a choir with the versatility and enthusiasm of the Rodolfus choir.


1. Lully, lulla Kenneth Leighton

2. The Oxen Philip Radcliffe

3. Lullaby, my sweet little baby William Byrd

4. The Lamb John Tavener

5. Ecce puer Chris Chivers

6. O magnum mysterium Morten Lauridsen

7. The truth sent from above Ralph Vaughan Williams

8. Lux Aurumque Eric Whitacre

9. Lullay my liking Gustav Holst

10. O magnum mysterium Francis Poulenc

11. O, Do not move John Tavener

12. Alma redemptoris mater Giovanni da Palestrina

13. Welcome, Yule! Hubert Parry

14. Remember, O thou man Thomas Ravenscroft

15. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston

16. Ave Maria Tomas Luis de Victoria

17. The Crown of Roses Pyotr Tchaikovsky

18. Bethlehem Down Peter Warlock

19. Today the Virgin John Tavener

https://signumrecords.com/product/a-choral-christmas/SIGCD257/

Nothing heralds the majesty of Christmastime quite like the brilliance and radiant beauty of music for brass instruments. On this remastered reissue of a classic holiday favorite, the Gabriel V Brass Ensemble presents a special collection of music for Christmas written by a variety of masters of the genre including Rolf Smedvig, Anthony DiLorenzo, Morten Lauridsen and William Berry. From the overflow of joy in J.S. Bach's Wie will ich mich freuen to the cinematic soundscape of DiLorenzo's Baltazar (A King's Journey) to the rosy-cheeked romp of Leroy Andersen's Sleigh Ride, each piece adds new luster to your celebration of this glorious season.


Gloriae Dei Cantores

'Ring in the Holidays' with the joyous sounds of Christmas performed on the world's largest range of handbells. The Westminster Concert Handbell Choir is one if America's leading handbell ensemble and has appeared on the Today Show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the broadcast of the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center. Merry Christmas to All!

Westminster Choir

1 Ukrainian Bell Carol
2 O Come, All Ye Faithful
3 Angel Tidings
4 Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
5 Esurientes
6 Ave Maria
7 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
8 Still, Still, Still
9 While By My Sheep
10 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
11 We Three Kings
12 Farandole
13 Marche
14 Danse Arabe
15 Valse Des Fleurs
16 Troika
17 White Christmas
18 Stille Nacht

A holiday treat - the first Christmas CD by the outstanding Irish performing group Anuna. Anuna performs many holiday standards and additionally, some Irish holiday songs such as "Codail a Linbh"

1 Away in a Manger
2 Angelus Ad Virginem
3 Ding Dong Merrily on High
4 The First Noel
5 Christmas Memories
6 Noel Nouvelet
7 Jingle Bells
8 Christmas Kisses
9 Codail a Linbh
10 Angels Are Singing
11 Ecce Quod Natura
12 O Tannenbaum

13. Sanctus

Sussex Carol In Dulci Jubilo Gaudete I Saw Three Ships I Wonder As I Wander Kling No, Klokka In the Bleak Midwinter Silent Night Angels We Have Heard on High Ding Dong! Merrily on High Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Away in a Manger We Three Kings O Little Town of Bethlehem Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Go Tell It on the Mountain

With a TV and radio audience of millions, the annual broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols is an essential Christmas tradition for families all over the world. The debut album from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge's own label features a specially recorded performance of this evergreen favorite that includes many of the most well-known Christmas carols as well as new commissions from some of today's most popular composers. The choir's performance faithfully recreates the service, opening with a lone treble singing Once in Royal David's City and closing with a rousing chorus of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Each year the choir's Director of Music Stephen Cleobury commissions a new carol, several of which are included on this album. In addition, John Rutter was commissioned to write a new carol All Bells in Paradise especially for this album. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is one of the world's foremost choirs. It owes it's existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. The choir has been a breeding ground for numerous professional singers, many of whom will appear on forthcoming recordings from the new label.

Disc: 1

1 Hymn: Once in Royal David's City
2 Bidding Prayer, Lord's Prayer and Blesing
3 Herefordshire Carol
4 First Lesson
5 Adam Lay Ybounded
6 A Virgin Most Pure
7 Second Lesson
8 In Dulci Jubilo
9 If Ye Would Hear the Angels Sing
10 Third Lesson
11 Sussex Carol
12 Hymn: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
13 Fourth Lesson
14 A Tender Shoot
15 Det ÄR en Ros Utsprungen
16 Fifth Lesson
17 Hymne À la Vierge
18 Sunny Bank
19 Sixth Lesson
20 Mariä Wiegenlied
21 The Holly and the Ivy

Disc: 2

1 Seventh Lesson
2 Hymn: While Shepherds Watched
3 Illuminare, Jerusalem
4 Eighth Lesson
5 Christmas Carol
6 Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
7 Ninth Lesson
8 Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful
9 Collect and Blessing
10 Hymn: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
11 Organ Voluntary: In Dulci Jubilo (BWV 729)
12 The Christ Child
13 Now Comes the Dawn
14 Misere' Nobis
15 Mary
16 Christmas Eve
17 All Bells in Paradise

1. Jingle bells – James Pierpont (1822–93), arr Ralph Allwood (b1950) 2:00
2. Star Carol – John Rutter (b1945) 3:05
3. The voice of the angel Gabriel – Sir Philip Ledger (b1937) (first recording) 3:53
4. The holly and the ivy – Matthew Owens (b1971) 3:12
5. Bethlehem Down – Peter Warlock (1894–1930) 5:47
6. On Christmas night (Sussex Carol) – English trad, arr Ledger 1:59
7. Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth Poston (1905–87) 3:24
8. Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child – Kenneth Leighton (1929–88) 3:15
9. The Infant King – Basque Noël, arr Sir David Willcocks (b1919) 4:17
10. Lux aurumque – Eric Whitacre (b1970) 4:26
11. Candlelight Carol – Rutter 5:24
12. Ding dong! merrily on high – 16th-century French, arr Mack Wilberg (b1955) 2:05
13. Improvisation on God rest you merry, gentlemen – Myron J Roberts 5:2514. Follow that star – Peter Gritton (b1963) 2:01
14. Cradle Lullaby – Owain Park* (b1993)(first recording) 3:54
15. 16. Away in a manger – William J Kirkpatrick, arr Willcocks 2:50
16. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire) – Mel Tormé (1925–99) and Robert Wells (1922–98), arr Gritton 3:22
17. Silent night – Franz Gruber (1787–1863), arr Owens (first recording)

For his final recording with the men and boys of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, Benjamin Nicholas chose to celebrate Britain’s best-loved living composer.

Rather than simply sticking to familiar classics, this programme explores the full range of Rutter’s output, from The Lord is my shepherd and Lord, thou hast been our refuge to his most recent piece, This is the day, written for the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Editors note: Although not marketed as a Christmas album, this album includes Rutter's "Dormi Jesus," "Carol of the Magi," and "There is a flower."

https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/dcd34107?_pos=16&_sid=132e7e903&_ss=r

A new festive release from the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge under their director Mark Williams – with additional performances from organists Robert Dixon and Timothy Lambourn, and trumpeter Rebecca Crawshaw.

1. Jesus Christ the apple tree Elizabeth Poston

2. We wait for thy loving kindness William McKie

3. I sing of a maiden Patrick Hadley

4. Advent Prose Judith Weir

5. There is no rose John Joubert

6. Hymn to the virgin Benjamin Britten

7. Bright star carol Nico Muhly

8. In the bleak midwinter Harold Darke

9. Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day John Gardner

10. The shepherds carol Bob Chilcott

11. I Saw Three Ships Traditional, arr. Simon Preston

12. The little road to Bethlehem Michael Head

13. Away in a Manger W.J. Kirkpatrick

14. Sir Christèmas William Mathias

15. The Lamb John Tavener

16. Paean on Divinum Mysterium John Cook

17. Epiphany Judith Bingham

18. Here is the little door Herbert Howells

19. Bethlehem Down Peter Warlock

20. Nunc dimittis Geoffrey Burgon

21. Hymn to the Creator of Light John Rutter

https://signumrecords.com/product/journey-into-light/SIGCD269/

The iconic voice lends her magical voice to grace this holiday season. Featuring the most iconic Christmas songs performed beautifully by the wonderfully gifted Katherine Jenkins.

1 O Holy Night
2 Panis Angelicus
3 Silent Night
4 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
5 In Paradisum
6 Ave Maria
7 The Prayer
8 Be Still My Soul
9 Laudate Dominum
10 Sancta Maria
11 Hallelujah
12 Ave Maria

Decca Records

Editor's Note: Though not a Christmas album, this album does include some of Rodney Bennett's Christmas and winter works like the namesake fo the album, "My Dancing Day," "In the bleak midwinter," "The New Year Carol," "The Apple Tree," (we don't know if this is "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree"), and "Winter Night."

As one of Britain’s most respected and versatile musicians, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett has produced over two hundred works for the concert hall, and fifty scores for film and television, as well as having been a writer and performer of jazz songs for over fifty years.

This disc of compositions and arrangements performed by the BBC Singers showcases some of his most popular and beguiling works for choir and voice, drawn from classical and jazz music and featuring his ever-popular work A Good-Night.

1. My dancing day

2. Gloria, Gloria

3. In the bleak midwinter

4. New Year Carol

Town and Country

5. I. The Sun has long been set

6. II. Town and Country

Serenades

7. Mistress Margaret

8. Mistress Margery

9. Mistress Anne

10. My Darling Dear

11. Mistress Isabel

12. The Apple Tree

Four poems of Thomas Campion

13. Winter Nights

14. Never Weather-beaten Saile

15. Fire, fire!

16. The Hours of Sleepy Night

17. A Good-Night

18. By Strauss George Gershwin, arr. RRB

19. Sophisticated lady Duke Ellington, arr. RRB

20. Every time we say goodbye Cole Porter, arr. RRB

https://signumrecords.com/product/my-dancing-day/SIGCD293/



Grammy nominee and #1 Billboard violinist Jenny Oaks Baker is at it again, this time releasing Noel: Carols of Christmas Past, a folksy collection of Christmas songs with roots deep in European culture.


1 We Three Kings
2 Oiche Chiuin (Silent Night)
3 Patapan
4 In the Bleak Midwinter
5 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
6 Ding Dong Merrily on High
7 Wexford Carol
8 Angels We Have Heard on High
9 The Holly and the Ivy
10 Carol of the Bells

‎ Shadow Mountain

Music has been a strong political, unifying force for the Latvian people. It rose slowly, out of folk songs, during the 700 years of oppression by Russian tsars and German overlords. 

Poetry and song, with their indirect and symbolic undertones, became an inside language was a way of passing on messages, revisiting legendary heroes and building confidence. 

Latvian composers have fused their folklore with contemporary trends and this recording is an example of this fusion. 

Cantatas for the Christmas season by three of Latvia's most well-known composers are offered. Sung by the New York Latvian Concert Choir with the Latvian National Opera Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrejs Jansons, the recording was made in Latvia in February, 2012. The New York Latvian Concert Choir was founded in 1975. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the re-establishment of Latvia's independence, the choir has regularly collaborated with choirs and soloists in Latvia. 

Its mission has been to keep alive and promote Latvian music within the Latvian communities of the U.S., Canada, Australia and elsewhere and to introduce these countries to Latvia's ongoing cultural heritage.

https://www.albanyrecords.com/catalog/troy1389/

Rondeau Production

Biographies Rev. Msgr. Louis A. Marucci, Executive Director Monsignor Louis A. Marucci was born in Philadelphia and began studying piano at the age of nine. After several years on piano, he transferred his studies to harp. 

In 1978 at the age of eighteen, he began his studies for the priesthood and was ordained in May 1987. Monsignor Marucci holds a Master of Divinity and the Master of Arts in Sacred Theology. He holds an M.A. in Philanthropy and Development, and is matriculating toward an M.S. in Church Management. 

In addition, he holds the Doctorate in Ministry specializing in health care ethics and medical moral theology. After serving in several administrative positions for the Diocese of Camden, he returned to full-time parish ministry, and serves as the Pastor of the Church of St. Vincent Pallotti, Haddon Township, NJ. In April 2000 he was named 'Chaplain of His Holiness' with the title 'Reverend Monsignor' by the Holy Father. Monsignor Marucci feels that music is an important part of his ministry, and desires the spiritual message to reach far and wide. 

In December 1998, the Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra debuted at Carnegie Hall for their Christmas concert, and in 1999, a Christmas concert was presented at the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. In 2001 the organization reappeared at Carnegie Hall, and in 2006 the ensemble sold out the Philadelphia Kimmel Center for it's tribute to the Armed Forces 'Freedom' concert. In 2011, the organization presented a 200-voice mixed chorus and full symphonic orchestra again at the Philadeolphia Kimmel Center in it's performance of 'God Bless America: Remembering 9/11', also available on CD.

1 Season's Greetings: Overture
2 Home for the Holidays Medley
3 Born to Reign
4 Christmas Glory Medley
5 Worthy Is the Lamb
6 The Many Moods of Christmas (Suite 3)
7 The Prayer
8 Little Yeshua
9 Heartbeat of Heaven
10 We Three Kings
11 One King With God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12 One Solitary Life
13 Happy Birthday Jesus
14 Joy to the World

Founded in 1998 with members from the world-famous Gachinger Kantorei, Stuttgart's celebrated men's choir "Die Meistersinger" have devoted themselves to rescuing the rich repository of 19th century works for male voices from obscurity. The "Mannerchor" has a distinguished history throughout the Germanic lands, often serving the community with multiple functions such as a social club, political forum or an ad hoc auxiliary to professional guilds. In keeping with the spirit of the season, "Die Meistersinger" return to offer their perfect blend of voices and rich, goldenhued sound in a program of Christmas favorites.

Haenssler Classics

1 Adeste Fideles
2 Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
3 Veni, Veni Emmanuel
4 Zu Bethlehem Geboren
5 Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
6 Still, Still, Still, Weil's Kindlein Schlafen Will
7 Leise Rieselt Der Schnee
8 Weihnachtslied
9 Horch! Die Weihnachtsglocken Klingen
10 Avelauten
11 In Der Winternacht
12 Weihnachtsglocken
13 Weihnachtsglocken
14 Heilige Nacht
15 Heilige Nacht
16 Von Gluck Und Fried Zur Weihnachtszeit
17 Weihnacht
18 Deck the Halls
19 The First Nowell
20 O Holy Night
21 Silver Bells
22 Go Tell It on the Mountain
23 Stille Nacht

Exclusive Collection of Christmas Carols Many renowned German-speaking singers - amongst others, Jonas Kaufmann, Angelika Kirchschlager and Christoph Pregardien - and ensembles have recorded their Christmas carol exclusively for the song project. The recordings are presented in two lavishly equipped CD boxes with elaborate illustrated booklets.
Label Carus

1 Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen - Kammerchor Stuttgart
2 Leise Rieselt Der Schnee - Julian Pregardien/Gotz Payer
3 Morgen, Kinder, Wird's Was Geben - Various Performers
4 Vom Himmel Hoch, O Englein, Kommt - Dorothee Ratsmusik/Hamburger Ratsmusik
5 Inmitten Der Nacht - Franz Josef Selig/Gerold Huber
6 Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland - Franz Vitzthum/Les Escapades
7 Lieb Nachtigall, Wach Auf - Kay Johannsen
8 Ihr Kinderlein, Kommet - Various Performers
9 Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging - Calmus Ensemble Leipzig
10 Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen - Angelika Kirchschlager/Juliane Ruf
11 Noël: Où S'en Vont Ces Guays Bergers, H534 - Ensemble 94
12 Fröhliche Weihnacht - Various Performers
13 Vom Himmel Hoch - SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart
14 Wer Klopfet An? - Various Performers
15 Morgen Kommt Der Weihnachtsmann - Kay Johannsen/Christine Busch
16 Am Weihnachtsbaume Die Lichter Brennen - Various Performers
17 Wisst Ihr Noch, Wie Es Geschehen? - Orpheus Vokalensemble
18 Ich Steh An Deiner Krippen Hier - Sarah Wegener/Ensemble Licht Und Schatten
19 Zumba Zum - Kay Johannsen
20 Freu Dich, Erd Und Sternenzelt - Orpheus Vokalensemble
21 In Dulci Jubilo - Ruth Sandhoff/Les Escapades
22 Tochter Zion, Freue Dich - Klaus Mertens/Kay Johannsen
23 Alle Jahre Wieder - Various Performers
24 Weihnachten, Op. 79 - SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart
25 Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen Alle Gleich - Andreas Weller/Kay Johannsen
26 Joseph, Lieber, Joseph Mein - Blechblaserensemble Ludwig Guttler
27 O Jesulein Zart - Niniwe
28 Macht Hoch Die TÜR No. 1 - NDR Chor Hamburg
29 Noël: O Créateur, H531 - Ensemble 94
30 O Du Fröhliche - Jonas Kaufmann/Jan Philip Schulze





1 I'll Be Home for Christmas (Lisa) 2 Hark the Herald Angels Sing (All) 3 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Chloe) 4 Silent Night (Meav) 5 We Three Kings (3 Vocalists) 6 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (All) 7 What Child Is This (Meav) 8 Adeste Fidelis (Chloe) 9 Winter Wonderland (All) 10 Mary's Boy Child (3 Vocalists) 11 Auld Lang Syne (Lisa) 12 Joy to the World (2 Vocalists)






Following on from the 2010 release of I Saw Three Ships and Other Carols, this is a second volume of Christmas carols arranged for string quartet.


This collection continues in a similar vein, but has developed a life of its own, exploring the Christmas musical tradition from countries such as France, Germany, Ireland and the Ukraine - as well as many well-loved carols from the British Isles.


Researching the history of these carols has made me aware of the often-piecemeal nature of their development (such as "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Jingle Bells"), where luck often played a part in arriving at the final versions that we know and love today.


Many started life in a non-religious form or for purposes other than being played at Christmas ("Good King Wenceslas" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" being two well-known examples). Whatever their origins, we hope that by re-arranging and harmonising these pieces for string quartet, we have given them a fresh feel, with original counter melodies illuminating the traditional tunes in an authentic way. Vaughan Jones 2011


The Carols
"Sussex Carol." The words and melody now used for this carol were written down by two pioneers of English folk music collection: Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Sharp collected his version in Buckland, Gloucestershire whereas Vaughan Williams gathered his from a Harriet Verrall of Monk's Gate, near Horsham, Sussex. This is how it acquired the title "Sussex Carol" and is the most popular version nowadays, being published in 1919.


"Il est Né, le Divin Enfant." Grosjean's 'Airs des Noêl Lorrain' published in 1862 contains the melody for this carol, where it is entitled 'Ancien Air de Chasse'. It does bear a similarity with an ancient hunting tune from Normandy called 'Tête Bizarde' and it has also been speculated that it may have originated in the 18th century as a composition in a rustic style. It has a fanfare-like quality which lends itself to ornamentation and can also be performed as a gavotte.


"Joy to the World." The melody we now know as "Joy To the World" is often called "Antioch" and has been accredited to the prolific American hymn writer Lowell Mason. Many still assume it is the work of George Frideric Handel but it seems more likely that Mason took snippets of Handel's music and formed a convincing pastiche of the great master's style. It is an uplifting melody and melds perfectly with the words (which were written 120 years previously by the English hymn writer Isaac Watts in 1719).


"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." The words of this carol were written in 1849 by the Unitarian minister Edmund Sears from Massachusetts. From there it evolved a parallel existence; it was sung in the United States to a melody by Richard Storrs Willis called "Carol" (written in 1850) and known in Britain by a traditional tune called "Noel" which Arthur Sullivan arranged in 1874.


"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Felix Mendelssohn composed the melody for this famous carol as a chorus in his 1840 cantata 'Festgesang'. It was not intended for religious use as the work was written to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press! Equally interesting is the scoring Mendelssohn originally employed for this tune, with bass trombones and tubas accompanying the tenors and basses of the chorus to produce some murky sonorities in the lower registers. It was re-harmonised by William H. Cummings in 1855 and set to a text by Charles Wesley written in 1739. Wesley expected his words to be set to solemn music and would have no doubt been as surprised as Felix Mendelssohn at the unlikely marriage which finally immortalised them - so is the often-strange history of familiar carols which we might otherwise assume were always thus.


"Good King Wenceslas." This famous 13th century carol was originally meant as a celebration of spring and was entitled "Tempus Adest Floridum" ("The Time for Flowering"). It was published in 1582 in the Finnish collection Piae Cantiones, a copy of which found its way into the hands of the British ambassador to Sweden, G. J. R. Gordon in 1853 who presented it to John Mason Neale. Neale then added lyrics concerning a Bohemian Duke who goes forth on the feast of St. Stephen (26th December) to give alms to a beggar. The words are pure Victorian whimsy but have not totally obscured a delightful ancient melody.


"Rocking Carol." Collected in the 1920s by a Miss Jacubickova, this traditional Czech carol was originally called "Hajej, nynjej." The comforting words speak about rocking the infant Jesus and keeping him warm. The melody bears a close resemblance to "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and may be Medieval in origin.


"Gaudete! Gaudete! Christus est Natus." This was another of the collection of 74 songs known as Piae Cantiones" and published in 1582 by the Finnish clergyman and headmaster Jacobus Finno. The piece appears without the verses which seem to have been taken from older chants. It is a song of praise at the birth of Christ as "God has become man, to the wonderment of nature."


"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is one of the most enduring and widely-arranged of all Christmas songs. It is believed to have originated in the West Country of England where groups of travelling singers (or 'waits') would sing for food and gifts. The lyrics are a plea for festive treats and include the lines 'Now bring us some figgy pudding, For we all like figgy pudding, And we won't go until we've got some, So bring some out here!' The 'figgy pudding' in question contained molasses, figs, lemon peel, walnuts and spices.


"O Holy Night." Adolphe Adam (the famous composer of the ballet 'Giselle') wrote this carol in 1847. It was based on the poem 'Minuit, Chretiens' (Midnight, Christians') by a wine merchant and poet Placide Cappeau and was later modified by the American Unitarianist minister John Sullivan Dwight. Despite the religious content of the poem and beauty of the melody it has an operatic feel to it that is reminiscent of Rossini's forays into religious music. It is also known as "Cantique de Noel."


"Past Three O' Clock." The words to this traditional carol were set to the tune originally known as "London Waits" by George Ratcliffe Woodward for the Cambridge Carol Book' of 1924. The words of the refrain however can be traced back to Playford's 'Dancing Master' of the 17th century. Woodward also provided words for the old French carol that became "Ding Dong Merrily on High" which is one of the carols included on our first album.


"See Amid the Winter's Snow." The words for this carol (also known as "Hymn for Christmas Day" were penned by Edward Caswall and the music composed by John Goss. Goss also wrote the memorable hymn "Praise my Soul," the King of Heaven' and this carol certainly has a hymnlike quality to it. Goss was a pupil of Thomas Attwood (himself a favourite pupil of Mozart) and went on to teach Arthur Sullivan.


"Shakespeare's Carol." The author of this particular carol was the eighteenth-century English composer Thomas Arne. He is reported to have been a difficult character, forcing his favourite singers on to theatre managers so that by the time he reached later life few would employ him. He did have considerable success though (including the patriotic song 'Rule Brittania' written for the masque 'Alfred') and this carol was part of a production for the play 'As You Like It'.


"Jingle Bells." One of the world's most popular Christmas songs isn't all that it appears. Written in 1857 by the American James Lord Pierpont it was in fact written for Thanksgiving and entitled "One Horse Open Sleigh." Harmonically the original chorus is completely different from the version we are now familiar with, and in this arrangement, it was decided to incorporate it into the third verse (from the modulation onwards this is how it would have originally sounded!).

"O Tannenbaum." This beloved German carol is often translated as "O Christmas Tree" but its exact translation is "O Fir Tree."

1 Sussex Carol
2 Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
3 Joy to the World
4 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
5 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
6 Good King Wenceslas
7 Rocking Carol
8 Gaudete! Gaudete! Christus Est Natus
9 We Wish You a Merry Christmas
10 O Holy Night
11 Past Three O'Clock
12 See Amid the Winter's Snow
13 Shakespeare's Carol
14 Jingle Bells
15 O Tannenbaum
16 Lute Book Lullaby
17 The Shepherds' Farewell
18 Carol of the Bells
19 To Drive the Cold Winter Away
20 Sans Day Carol
21 O Little Town of Bethlehem
22 Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil 23 Noel Nouvelet

Ukrainian Christmas Carols And New Year Songs by Authentic Ethnic Music Recordings

1 In the Lord Olexiy's Yard
2 Virgin Mary Was Standing On the Stone
3 Young Mary Was Walking in the Yard
4 There Is a Beautiful Guilder / Rose in the Meadow
5 On the Bank of Jordan River
6 Kolyadnytsya / Kolyadnytsya
7 In the Middle of the Lord's Yard
8 There Was a Birch in the Lord's Yard
9 Have Come Three Kings to Christ With Gifts
10 New Joy Has Come
11 Schedryk / Vedryk
12 In the Lord Ivan's Yard
13 There Was a Tree in the Pine Forest
14 Canticle to St. Nicolas
15 Melanka Was Walking
16 Why Do You Galochko Stay Home?
17 Jesus Christ Was Born
18 Thy Nativity

Editor's Note: Though not marketed as a Christmas album, the album contains some of Chilcott's carols including "The Shepherds Sing," "Nova! Nova!," and "A Rose in the Middle of Winter." 

Former King’s Singer Bob Chilcott conducts a stellar array of his choral music, in a collaborative performance with the Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir. Described by the Observer as “a contemporary hero of British Choral Music”, Bob Chilcott works tirelessly as a composer and choral conductor – August 2012 saw the first performance of The Angry Planet in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, and he has recently completed commissions for The Bach Choir, BBC Singers and National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

1. The Shepherds Sing – Bob Chilcott – 3.37
2. Nova! Nova! – Bob Chilcott – 2.51
3. The Heart-in-Waiting – Bob Chilcott – 3.23
4. Pilgrim Jesus – Bob Chilcott – 2.07
5. Jesus, Springing – Bob Chilcott – 4.33
6. The Rose in the Middle of Winter – Bob Chilcott – 2.42
7. Lulajze, Jezuniu – Bob Chilcott – 3.54
8. The Dove and the Olive Leaf – Bob Chilcott – 3.00
9. Remember me – Bob Chilcott – 3.38
10. Simple Pictures of Tomorrow – Bob Chilcott – 7.26
11. Happy the Man – Bob Chilcott – 2.33
12. Furusato: Sunayama (Sand Mountain) – Bob Chilcott – 2.35
13. Furusato: Mura Matsuri (Village Festival) – Bob Chilcott – 1.19
14. Furusato: Oborozukiyo (Blurred Moon) – Bob Chilcott – 2.29
15. Furusato: Furusato (Homeland) – Bob Chilcott – 3.07
16. Furusato: Momiji (Maple Leaves) – Bob Chilcott – 3.00
17. Our Father (The Bread of Life) – Bob Chilcott – 3.43
18. The Seeds of Stars – Bob Chilcott – 4.19

https://signumrecords.com/product/the-seeds-of-stars/SIGCD311/#

Winter Gift is Adagio Trio's (flute, harp, cello) third CD recording. The unique combination of harp, flute and cello provides a fitting compliment for reflection during the Christmas season. 

Selections, many arranged by the trio, include 'Ave Maria' (Bach/Gounod),' Silent Night,' 'Away in a Manger,' and 'Carol of the Bells.' The Adagio Trio was founded in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kathryn Daniels, Michael Daniels, and Linda Grieser, the founding members, perform regularly for concerts, religious services, weddings, and receptions. 

In 1990 Michael took the position of co-principal cellist with the Virginia Symphony, and the Daniels moved to Norfolk, Virginia. The trio continued to work together, however, and released their first CD Stillpoint in 1997. Over 12,000 copies of Stillpoint and Sanctuary (1999) have been sold in the Hampton Roads and Cincinnati areas. They have been a huge favorite with WHRO-FM (Norfolk, VA) listeners, and are the best-selling independent classical CDs at Planet Music, Virginia Beach. 

The overwhelming response to these collections of meditative music led the trio to create their Christmas recording Winter Gift. In 2005, the trio released Evensong, which is another collection of classical, follk and religious music. In 2008, they released Celtic Heart, a collection of traditional Celtic songs, each arranged by the trio itself. Raymond Jones of the Virginia Daily Press calls Stillpoint 'an enchanting disc not to be missed.' Tom Robotham, editor of Hampton Roads Portfolio Weekly says both CDs (Stillpoint and Sanctuary) are 'terrific, from start to finish.'

1	What Child Is This?
2	Angel's Carol - Rutter
3	Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
4	Silent Night - Gruber
5	Carol of the Bells - Ukranian Carol
6	In the Bleak Midwinter - Darke
7	Gesu Bambino - Pietro
8	Let All Mortal Flesh/A Virgin Most Pure
9	Oh Holy Night - Adam
10	Good People All, This Christmastide (Wexford Carol)
11	The Cherry Tree/ Holly and the Ivy
12	Still, Still, Still
13	Of the Father's Love Begotten/ Lo How a Rose
14	Three French Carols
15	O Come, O Come Emmanuel
16	Away in a Manger/Friendly Beasts
17	By Candlelight - Schram

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