Carols for Christmas: Volumes I & II

David Willcocks (Artist), Royal College Music Chamber Choi (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009MV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,919 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem

3. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

4. Good Christian Men, Rejoice

5. Angels We Have Heard On High

6. Away In A Manger

7. Good King Wenceslas

8. The First Nowell

9. O Little One Sweet

10. Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Holly And The Ivy

2. Lo, How A Rose

3. Joy To The World

4. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

5. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

6. I Saw Three Ships

7. Once In Royal David's City

8. O Come, All Ye Faithful

9. The Three Kings

10. Here We Come A-Wassailing

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is the Christmas CD you want, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carols for Christmas: Volumes I & II (Audio CD)

Christmas carol CDs are soooo hard to pick. They schlop it up with too many opera stars whom you love but don't think of as Christmassy, swirl your favorites into pop tunes which have their own place but aren't all you want, or just plain plump for the most arcane medieval carols in place of the ones you sang from house to house as a child in the snow. This is the CD you want. It has all the best carols and they are beautifully orchestrated and sung. Buy this and you have the one CD you really need for Christmas; then you can toss in those pop versions and opera stars as suits.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine old carols from the English tradition, well recorded, November 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Carols for Christmas: Volumes I & II (Audio CD)

This album has many of the best traits of high English culture -- understatement, reverence, a sense of history -- and yet little of the stuffiness. It's wonderful, warm holiday music, neither sentimental nor solemn. It works very well as background to holiday gatherings, yet rewards close listening, too. I'm no musician but I agree with my friends who are: the Royal College of Music sings these fine old carols as well as anyone. The recording quality is excellent, too. This music is not vibrant, toe-tapping, or modern, but I can't think of anything I'd rather listen to after a big holiday dinner, appreciating the peace of the season. I especially recommend you go outside on a December night with this on headphones and crunch around in the snow. You might believe you're in a Dylan Thomas story. You might want to move to 18th-century England. You certainly won't be sorry you bought the CD.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Christmas Carol Recital, August 8, 2000

By 

Alan Craig (Grand Junction,CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carols for Christmas: Volumes I & II (Audio CD)

This recording of Christmas Carols conducted by Sir David Willcocks is a refreshing alternative to all those sugary, syrupy, or pop arraingments of these carols. There is nothing of the "elevator music" element here just simply arrainged, well perfomed carols done the way it would be at home during the Christmas season, one can even sing along without too much trouble. For those looking for a good set of carols to enjoy during the season this is a good set to start with.