Colonial American Christmas and Americana Christmas

Colonial American Christmas and American Christmas

 2018

 

Early American holiday favorites featuring Fiddle, Hammered Dulcimer, Whistles, Guitar, Mandolin, and Accordion. Craig Duncan's talents on violin, fiddle, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, guitar, bass, and viola can be heard on numerous Nashville recordings. 

A graduate of Appalachian State University and Tennessee State University, Craig is a member of the North American Fiddler's Hall of Fame and Who's Who in Music and Musicians. He's written 30+ music instruction publications for Mel Bay Public.  

Label: Green Hill Productions

1981

Christmas music from Williamsburg produced by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Dolby-encoded audio cassette tape of recordings made in 1981.

Early American vocal and instrumental music, which features Shaker hymns, Colonial anthems, country dances, shape-note hymns from The Southern Harmony and The Original Sacred Harp, and a variety of 19th-century spiritual songs. While we do not consider this exclusively a holiday recording, there are a number of selections appropriate for winter and Christmastide, including a beautiful new choral setting of Christ the Apple-tree by John Bitterman.

1. Harps of Welcome Anonymous, Shaker Music (1875) 2:31
2. Give Good Gifts Anonymous, Original Shaker Music (1893) 1:43
3. Jordan’s Shore White, The Southern Harmony (1854) 4:13
4. Pretty Home Sister Patsy Williamson (1849) 1:58
5. Cold Frosty Morning Traditional 4:07
6. Still Water Hastings, A Selection of Spiritual Songs (1878) 2:51
7. Sherburne Daniel Read (1757-1836) 1:47
8. Wayfaring Stranger Anonymous, The Original Sacred Harp (1936) 4:36
9. Improvisation Mark Dietrich (b. 1967) 2:20
10. Bozrah Anonymous, The Southern Harmony (1854) 4:09
11. The Babe of Bethlehem William Walker (1809-1875) 3:49
12. The Babe of Bethlehem (instr.) William Walker, arr. Rose Ensemble :43
13. Herald Angels Dr. Arnold, The Village Harmony (ca. 1812) 2:27
14. Judea William Billings (1746-1800) 2:05
15. Peace and Joy Anonymous, Original Shaker Music (1893) 2:21
16. Drive the Cold Winter Away John Playford (1623-1686) 3:01
17. Shiloh William Billings (1746-1800) 1:59
18. John Come Kiss Me Now Anonymous, The Division Violin (1684) 3:13
19. The Old Angels Hymn / St. Luke’s Tune / Kimbolton Tune William Tans’ur (1700-1783) 2:28
20. Scotch Cap / Juice of Barley John Playford (1623-1686) 3:43
21. Morning Dawn Anonymous, Shaker Music (1875) 2:53
22. Star in the East Anonymous, The Southern Harmony (1854) 4:16
23. Jesus the Light of the World Trad. American melody, arr. Geo. D. Elderkin 3:18
24. Christ the Apple-tree John Bitterman (b. 1960) 3:27

Gourd Music is proud to release Colonial Christmas, by Barry Phillips.

On this exciting new work Barry has arranged three distinct types of music:

American choral pieces by William Billings and other early American composers, dance tunes from John Playford s The English Dancing Master, and folk tunes of the period and earlier. Selections include "The Merry Wassail," "Christ Child Lullaby," "Drive the Cold Winter Away," "Nos Galan (Deck the Hall)," "Judea," and twelve additional selections.

Barry is joined by a wealth of musicians: Swedish nyckelharpa master Olov Johansson, Scottish fiddler Sarah-Jane Summers, Celtic harpist Jesse Autumn, Welsh violinist Robert Evans, oboe and English horn player Shelley Phillips, harpsichordist Linda Burman-Hall, mountain dulcimer player Neal Hellman Hammered dulcimer player Robin Petrie, fiddler Deby Benton Grosjean, flautist Lars Johannesson and others.
Colonial Christmas is a reflection from today, a look back at a variety of music that might well have been played at a Christmas party in colonial America.

Gourd Music

2004

Continuing its series of historical, seasonal repertoire from the Middle Ages through the baroque eras in association with The Metropolitan Museum, EARLY MUSIC NEW YORK presents 18th-century, New England Shape-Note anthems and fuging tunes by William Billings and his contemporaries (Asahel Benham, Samuel Holyoke, Jacob Kimball, Merit Woodruff, Daniel Read, William Selby and others). 

Popular tunes used for social dancing were brought from England by way of several 18th-century issues of "The English Dancing Master"; by the publisher John Playford. 

Dance tunes heard on this recording (flute, violin, bass violon and guitar) include the holiday titles "Christmas Cheer," "The Merry Wassail," "New Year's Eve," "New Year's Day in the Morning," and "Twelfth Eve." A medley of Dances, Marches, Airs and Song Tunes collected by colonial soldier, Captain George Bush, from his notebook dated 1779, round out this album of seasonal music from the Colonies.

1 Cold and Raw
2 Bethlehem-While Shepherds
3 In the Fields in Frost
4 The Seasons-Winter
5 Drive the Cold Winter Away
6 Emanuel for Christmas
7 Judea-A Virgin Unspotted
8 Christmas Cheer
9 Greensleeves/Pudding Pies
10 Lumps of Pudding
11 Boxford-The Lands
12 Cradle Hymn-Hush, my dear
13 Redemption-Hark, hark
14 Paxton
15 Antioch
16 Peace and Plenty
17 New Year's Eve
18 The Healths/Merry Wassel
19 Adeste fideles
20 Portugese Hymn
21 Over the Water to Charlie
22 Somersett
23 Ulster
24 Uffindell
25 Kathren Oggie
26 New Year's Day
27 Barkers Maggott/Stepney
28 General Washington's March
29 Ode for the New Year
30 Washington
31 Soldier's Joy
32 Yankee Doodle
33 Star in the East
34 The Babe of Bethlehem
35 Twelfth Eve
36 The Shepherd's Star
37 Our Pleasure
38 Modern Musician
39 Malbrouk
40 New Year-Eternity

Metropolitan Museum of Art / Ex Cathedra Records

1998

If you have information on the label of this recording, it tracks, and perhaps a better cover image, please contact us: christmascarolblog@gmail.com

1993

1 I. Prepare The Way: Watchman Of Zion 2 I. Prepare The Way: Kingsbridge 3 I. Prepare The Way: Bozrah 4 I. Prepare The Way: Baptismal Anthem 5 II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Christmas Hymn 6 II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Virgin Most Pure/A Virgin Unspotted 7 II. A Virgin Unspotted: Boston 8 III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Heavenly Coutier 9 III. Lo, The Bridegroom: Pretty Home 10 III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Midnight Cry 11 IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Wyafaring Stranger 12 IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Slow Traveller 13 IV. I Wonder As I Wander: I Wonder As I Wander 14 IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Lullay Thou Tiny Little Child 15 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: Lovely Vine 16 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: Adeste Fideless 17 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: Still Water 18 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: While Shpeherds Watched 19 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: Sherburne 20 V. Shepherds, Rejoice: Shepherds Rejoice 21 VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment 22 VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment 23 VI. Light Of The World: Hush My Babe, Lie Still & Slumber 24 VI. Light Of The World: Jesus The Light Of The World 25 VI. Light Of The World: Joy To The World Label: Erato

1982

1 Exultation
2 The Angel and the Shepherds Go, Tell It on the Mountain
3 Iglulik Eskimo Poem
4 The Huron Indian Carol
5 The Babe of Bethlehem
6 Star Silver
7 The Cherry Tree Carol
8 New Hosanna
9 Glory to the Mountain
10 Children, Go
11 The Kentucky Wassail Carol
12 The Christmas Tree
13 Chicken Foot
14 Mountain Christmas Carolling
15 Wondrous Love
16 I Wil Bow and Be Simple
17 Shall I Tell You?
18 Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
19 The Young Convert
20 Boston Brigade March
21 Shall We Gather at the River?

1978

1 Nowel, Owt Of Your Sleep 2 Ad Cantus Leticie 3 Angelus Ad Virginem 4 Synge We To This Merry Cumpane 5 Reading, And The Aungel Gabriel Was Sent Fro God; Gabriel From Evene King 6 Nova, Nova; Aue Fitt Ex Eva 7 Mervele Nought, Josep 8 Exultemus Et Letemus 9 The Midnight Cry 10 Sunny Bank 11 All Sons Of Adam 12 Greensleeves 13 Reading, Lesu Swete Sone Dere 14 Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child/The Coventry Carol 15 While Shepherds Watched/Sherburne 16 Fullfillment 17 My Little Sweet Darling 18 Reading, Make We Mere As We May 19 Gloucestershire Wassail 2010 Anonymous 4 brings US the Christmas story as told in medieval English carols and Anglo-American spiritual songs in a program inspired by the 15th-century miracle ballad the Cherry Tree Carol, which flourishes both in the British Isles and in America. 1 Prophetarum Presignata - Irish, 14th Century 2 Nowel Syng We Bothe Al and Som - English, 15th C 3 Alma Redemptoris Mater - English, 15th C 4 The Shepherd's Star - American, Southern Harmony 1835 5 Newell - Tydings Trew - English, 15th C 6 Mervele Noght Iosep - English, 15th C 7 Synge We to This Mery Cumpane - English, 15th C 8 Qui Creavit Celum - English, 15th C 9 A Virgin Unspotted - William Knapp 10 Now May We Syngyn - English, 15th C 11 Lullay My Child - This Ender Nigthgt - English, 15th C 12 Star in the East - American, Southern Harmony 1835 13 Veni Redemptor Gencium - English, 15th C 14 The Cherry Tree Carol - English, 15th C.; This Version Kentucky, 1917 15 Salve Mater Misericordie - Irish, 14th C 16 Hail Mary Ful of Grace - English, 15th C 17 Bethlehem - William Billings 1 Prophetarum Presignata - Irish, 14th Century 2 Nowel Syng We Bothe Al and Som - English, 15th C 1994 Get ready to be transported through time to the Colonial days of the late 1700's for a musical Christmas celebration of traditional seasonal melodies played on genuine period instruments. About the Artist John Mock is an accomplished classical guitarist, mandolinist, and a master with recorders and whistles. He performs regularly with Kathy Mattea, Nanci Griffith, Maura O'Connell, and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. John recorded with Mark O'Connor, James Taylor, Yo-yo Ma, and Wynton Marsalis for Mark O'Conner's Liberty soundtrack, a PBS special documenting the Revolutionary War. 1 Joy To The World 2 The Cherry Tree Carol 3 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 4 The Holly And The Ivy 5 The Parting Glass 6 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 7 Boston 8 What Child Is This 9 Sweet Slumbers 10 The Holly Hill 11 The Coventry Carol 12 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 13 Boston (reprise) 2007 This is one of the most original and musically satisfying Christmas programs on disc. And it features some of the most characterful and proficient ensemble singing you'll find anywhere. It's not that the music is obscure--in fact, most of the texts and/or tunes are familiar.  From early American settings of "While shepherds watched" and "The Apple Tree" to traditional Austrian and English carols such as "Still, still, still," and "Greensleeves" (sung to different-than-usual words), we're treated to outstanding arrangements (by Paul Hillier) and often surprising variations of tunes we thought we knew. In several cases--"While shepherds watched" and "Hark!  The herald angels sing," for example--the familiar texts are sung to completely different melodies. Highlights include original carols by Charles Ives and Jean Sibelius, and a starkly beautiful setting of "There is no rose" by Hillier. --David Vernier 1 While Shepaherds Watched (Sherburne) 2 The Shepherd's Star 3 A Christmas Carol 4 Joy To The World! 5 The Apple Tree 6 Christmas Hymn: A Virgin Unspotted 7 Away In A Manger (Afton Water) 8 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night 9 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Eltham) 10 En Esti Valtaa, Loistoa 11 Still, O Himmel 12 Susser Die Glocken 13 Weihnachtslied 14 Still, Still, Still 15 Gaudete, Christus Est Natus 16 Personent Hodie 17 The Yorkshire Wassail Song 18 Green Grow'th The Holly 19 Here We Come A-Wassailing 20 The Cherry Tree Carol 21 In The Bleak Mid Winter 22 There Is No Rose 23 A New Year's Gift (Greensleeves) 24 A Wassail, A Wassail Throughout All This Town! 1994 Mary Anne Ballard - treble and bass viols, rebec Mark Cudek - cittern, Baroque guitar, tenor viol, tenor recorder Custer LaRue - soprano Larry Lipkis - viol, soprano recorder Ronn McFarlane - lute Chris Norman - wooden flutes, bagpipe Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Season One cannot step into an elevator, fast-food restaurant, or airport between Thanksgiving and New Year's without hearing most of the tunes recorded here. This traditional music, with roots going back many centuries, revives our spirits and evokes a festive mood.   They have been part of our cultural subconscious for centuries. They have not been lost and then unearthed in recent times, like so much early music. They have been with us all along. —Mary Anne Ballard 1. Ding Dong Merrily (Branle l'officiel) - Orchésographie (1589) 2. The Old Year Now Away is Fled (Greensleeves) - New Christmas Carols (1642) 3. Christmas Day in da Mornin' - traditional, Shetland Islands 4. The Cherry Tree Carol - Cornwall (1913) and Kentucky (1917) 5. Wir singen dir, Immanuel - Nikolaus Hermann (1560) 6. The Wren Song - traditional, Ireland 7. A Wassail Tune (Chestnut) - English Dancing Master (1651) 8. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - William Sandys (1833) 9. Carol "Een Kindeken is ons geboren" - John Bull (c. 1562-1628) 10. The Bellman's Carol - Bramley & Stainer (1871) 11. A Christmas Jig (Jesus born in Berthn'y) - traditional, Virginia (1932) 12. Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen - Michael Praetorius (1609) 13. In dulci jubilo - Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694) 14. Rorate coeli desuper - tune, Scottish; text, William Dunbar (16th c.) 15. Drive the Cold Winter Away - tunes, Starter (1621) and Playford (1651) 16. Remember, O Thou Man - Thomas Ravenscroft (1611) 17. Quem pastores laudavere - Michael Praetorius (1607) 18. Christmas Is My Name - Shanne Commonplace Book (c. 1615) 19. In dir ist Freude - tune, Giovanni Gastoldi (1591) 20. Hey for Christmas! (Dargason) - broadside ballad (late 17th c.) https://www.sonoluminus.com/dorian/bright-day-star

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