The Many Moods of Christmas

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Performer), Robert Shaw (Artist), Robert Russell Bennett (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CT2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,772 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Good Christian Men Rejoice

2. Silent Night

3. Patapan

4. O Come, All Ye Faithful

5. O Sanctissima

6. Joy to the World

7. Away in the Manger

8. Fum Fum Fum: March of the Kings

9. What Child is This

10. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

11. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

12. Angels We Have Heard on High

13. Break Forth, O Beateous, Heavenly Light

14. The First Nowell

15. O Little Town of Bethlehem

16. I Saw Three Ships

17. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CHRISTMAS FAVORITE, May 19, 2005

By 

C. M. Kimball - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Many Moods of Christmas (Audio CD)

Personally, this is an all-time favorite Christmas collection with only a single reservation as to the recording. There are currently two versions available - the earlier one, performed by the NBC Symphony (circa 1963), and the later effort (1990) by The Atlanta Symphony, Robert Shaw's "home" orchestra for a number of years.

The Atlanta Symphony rendering would probably be considered by many to be the more "realistic." It depends, in the end, on personal taste. For me, however, the recording I "grew up with" is the original NBC recording.

On the RCA disc, both the orchestra and (smaller) chorus are more "up front" and immediate, more sharply focused, and the singers - probably hand selected by Shaw - seem crisp and alive, more involved. This, I would guess, has as much to do with the prevailing recording philosophy of the time as it does anything else.

The Atlanta performance, on the other hand, while certainly less suseptable to the manipulated balances of the 60's, seems, as a result, a bit "removed," closer to the more spacious effect of an actual concert hall environment, at least to me. But, again, my preference for the original is based strictly on personal taste. Yet, whichever experience you prefer, this is a marvelous collection featuring the stunning arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett. If you like medleys of contrast and brilliant embellishments, either recording is a must-have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my faves--highly recommend!, December 17, 2000

By 

Elizabeth M. Cole "kentuckyliz" (Pikeville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Many Moods of Christmas (Audio CD)

We listened to this in my family when I was growing up. It's all medleys, so it moves through quite a few Christmas songs. It can be sublime and quiet--love the O Sanctissima--but it doesn't stay that way for long. It can be crashing and rousing, too--as in I Saw Three Ships. You could say it is a bipolar CD! But it's good! Lovely orchestration and large chorus singing. The instrumental segues, fantasies, and descants are unusual and charming. I have other more strictly classical, jazz, and pop Christmas CD's, and I would say that this is an interesting "classical-pops" medley-fantasia that is unlike anything else. It has a timeless appeal and should be an annual best-seller. This is great music to play while wrapping presents, baking, and decorating the tree--it tugs at your heart-strings. Another reviewer said it is grandiose, and it is, but it is also grand. (Play something mellower for background music at the dinner table, though.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Christmas album., February 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Many Moods of Christmas (Audio CD)

I've had this album for about 5 seasons. Each Christmas my wife puts five CDs in our changer and after just a few hours, we have stopped playing all the others and play only the Robert Shaw & Atlanta Symphony recording -- over and over. The Robert Russell Bennett arrangements must be praised. Just when you think the arrangement has finished, he adds a coda that takes the music to new heights. It's as if he brings in the angels to help with the ending of the piece. Also the recording techniques were superb for this CD -- digital, I believe. Play it often and play it loud -- the louder, the better.