The Baroque Christmas Album

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Marc-Antoine Charpentier (Composer), Giovanni Gabrieli (Composer), Heinrich Schutz (Composer), Arcangelo Corelli (Composer), Michael Praetorius (Composer), John Eliot Gardiner (Conductor), Trevor Pinnock (Conductor), Paul McCreesh (Conductor), Marc Minkowski (Conductor), English Baroque Soloists (Performer), English Concert (Performer), Gabrieli Consort (Performer), Gabrieli Consort & Players (Performer), Les Musiciens du Louvre (Performer), Mirella Giardelli (Performer), Timothy Roberts (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: English Baroque Soloists, English Concert, Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Les Musiciens du Louvre, et al.
• Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner, Trevor Pinnock, Paul McCreesh, Marc Minkowski
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Giovanni Gabrieli, Heinrich Schutz, Arcangelo Corelli, et al.
• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Archiv Produktion
• ASIN: B000AR7FU6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #62 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Renaissance (c.1450-1600) > Composers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This compilation of re-issues, originally recorded in the 1990s and 2001 features music, by Bach, Charpentier, Gabrieli, Schütz, Corelli (the famous beloved "Pastorale") and Praetorius, all of it beautiful and just right for celebrating a festival of light, hope, worshipful praise, and jubilation. It is performed to perfection by several period vocal and instrumental groups, the latter tuned to various "authentic" pitches. Some of the pieces are excerpts from longer works, some are arrangements, such as four lovely French Christmas carols in an instrumental version by Charpentier, whose harmonic and contrapuntal complexity makes the simplicity of the melodies all the more touching. There are also two reconstructions by Paul McCreesh of Christmas services as they might have been heard during Gabrieli's lifetime at Saint Mark's in Venice and during Schütz's lifetime at the Dresden Hofkapelle. The program is arranged for utmost contrast between vocal and instrumental textures, speed, length, mood and character. Among the highlights are the devout, fervent, quite melancholy "O Jesu me dulcissime" by Gabrieli, who wrote for voices with the same luminous brilliance as for brasses, and Praetorius' "In dulce jubilo," which, with fanfares of trumpets and drums, makes a fittingly triumphant, glorious ending. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5-PLUS Stars, December 27, 2005

By 

P. Willson (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Baroque Christmas Album (Audio CD)

There are not many things in life that I would describe as just Gorgeous -- but this album is definitely one of them. The selections, the arrangements, the production quality, all are clean, yet lush -- simultaneously light and rich. The effect is wonderful.

This may not appeal to hardest-core periodists, but for beautiful music lovingly performed, the album is very hard to beat. Not only rocketted to the top of my favorite holiday album list - it is already high on my favorite all-time list. It will NOT be getting put away with the rest of the Christmas albums. Year-round keeper!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A firstrate Christmas present, January 11, 2011

By 

Mrs. E. G. Parke - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Baroque Christmas Album (Audio CD)

The Baroque Christmas Album

I gave this as a present and was told that I couldn't have chosen something which would have given more pleasure. It had hardly been off the CD player.

5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommeded, January 22, 2012

By 

Bert - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Baroque Christmas Album (Audio CD)

The customer service experience and the quality of the CD were outstanding. I received the CD in a matter of just a few days even though the suggested delivery time indicated at the time of the order was longer. Although I ordered a used one, it arrived brand new; wrapped in the original cellophane & has no imperfections when played. The Christmas music is beautiful, classic & inspirational for the season. The cost was very reasonable; much less than prices I've seen in stores. I'm very pleased with the associated vendor,"importcds," and highly recommend them to Amazon.com shoppers.