Customer Reviews

An American Christmas

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I collect Christmas recordings, and this has quickly become one of my favorites. The singing and playing are first rate (as are the Boston Camarata's other recordings). If you need an antidote for slow, syrupy, boring mall Christmas music, this is it!

I bought this CD after hearing the Boston Camerata live performing Carmina Burana. Lucky enough to meet them afterwards, I asked one of them which of their Christmas albums was the best, and he recommended this one. I was not disappointed. As other reviewers have said, it's refreshing to hear Christmas music that's different from the run of the mill, but it's also done with such artistry and feeling that I imagine if they remade Alvin and the Chipmunks' Christmas album, it would still be unutterably gorgeous. The group choral numbers are so rich you could lose yourself in them, especially Lovely Vine and The Midnight Cry. But for me the highlight is bass-baritone Joel Frederiksen's tender rendition of Hush My Babe, which gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. If you have any interest in choral music, early music, or just plain good music, buy this!

This album is an excellent selection of early American music done is a variety of styles - the notes are very clear about the choices made in performance.

Watchman of Zion is of the Mennonite shape-note tradition performed as an unacompanied solo. Kingbridge is done in the West Gallery tradition in its American flavor i.e. women's voices rather than high instruments. Baptismal Anthem is from the Original Sacred Harp with the addition of the alto line i.e. as it would be performed by shaped-note singing communities today. It does not contain the singing of the shapes that you would expect on a folk recording of the piece. The flute solo of Wayfaring Stranger is a gem from folk transmission.

The remainder of the album is as diverse and enjoyable. This should fall well into the top ten Christmas albums.

I'm a big fan of the Boston Camerata and Christmas music, and the combination here makes for one of my all-time favorite discs. The music is melodic, beautiful and delightfully original. Joel Cohen always seems to know what instrumentation and what voices "belong" to a certain piece; not a single track misfires. If you like this group, be sure to check out their other Christmas discs, in particular (in my view) "Noel Noel!", a disc of French seasonal music, and "Sing We Noël: Christmas Music from England and Early America", which is an older but still wonderful recording.

This is a truly enjoyable recording. Most of the music is unknown today, and I find that I would enjoy this CD at any time. The performances are wonderful. This recording is a jewel!

I have listened to this album through three Christmas seasons, and it remains my favorite. While I agree with the praise rendered for the wonderful artistry of the Boston Camerata, it is the content of the lyrics that really make this album special amongst other Christmas albums. The ability to express scriptural content in a deeply moving way is something that many contemporary hymn writers lack. I especially like "The Midnight Cry." And my children and I both enjoy "Baptismal Anthem" with its word picture of John the Baptist. Challenge yourself to a deeper relationship with God through these lyrics!

The track, "Jesus, the Light of the World" gave me goose bumps. It is both catchy and glorifying in sound. My favorite track. The entire sound of this CD is awsome, renaissance in sound.

There are many delightfully refreshing tracks on this CD. While I'm not a fan of soloists, there are many tracks with a chorus. Many of these selections have a real Civil War-era sound to them. I especially like track 18: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, done in the form of a round. I've become addicted to track 24. This is a CD for all seasons.

This is a great CD. Before I purchased it I was only maginally aware of the sound of music enjoyed by my ancestors. I played the CD during Christmas family festivties last year. It was well liked by all.

This is my all time favorite Christmas CD. Most selections are refreshingly unknown. (You won't hear any of these at the mall.) The arranging is superb, the voices are beautiful, and I set aside one night every year to kick back in front of the speakers and crank the volume. Very therapeutic.