Customer Reviews

Christmas Through The Ages

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

 

 

I can't believe it. This is the first "Christmas" disc I ever bought and am still regularly listening to ... nine months post-holiday, now!

This collection is replete with sparks of worship and awe. The festive jaunt embarks on a well-executed, majestic baroque piece, slipping into some flitty operatics. The mood shifts from aristocratic regalism to rich, emotive ethnicity in the climactic, folk dance-feel of entries 3 & 4. The transition between the two is gorgeous. {Who compiled this disc? Give that wo/man a raise! I have never heard such juxtapositional mastery on any professional compilation before. Chillout comp "masters", listen and weep!!}

Not only is this CD emotionally satiating with expert arrangement/transitions, it is well-balanced in style: from traditional to experimental, pointed to ethereal, instrumental to acapella ... voices male and female, youthful and mature. The frosty choral majesty of pockets No. 5 and interlude 9 through 13 bestow upon the listener such a sweet uplift into the spirit of praise. This inspirational thrust underlies a generous portion of this disc. For the first time in years I have decided upon a personal "favorite song", and that is #11. The "engagement ring diamond commercial" residue doesn't interfere too much with enjoying the effervescent, Vivaldi-ish No. 15. A few organ pieces are thrown in for good measure (the final, surprising one always evoking a good chuckle).

While there are certainly many standouts I listen to far more regularly than other ballads, this is a solid disc of excellent, well-executed music. My muddled blabbering on here cannot do this CD justice. This is one of the very best CDs in my personal collection. The Hyperion Label should be very proud of this release. If you are seeking a festive potpourri of aural exaltation, the charming incense of Christmas Throughout the Ages will not disappoint.

Incidentally, the track listing on Amazon is currently inaccurate - either that, or they have the wrong title and cover art for their product number here. Yikes! In the interim, go to the Hyperion-Records UK website to see the real list until Amazon rectifies this listing.

I have reviewed:

Thomas Clark of Canterbury (1775-1859)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night [3'40]
Psalmody, The Parley of Instruments / Peter Holman
From Christmas Music from English Parish Churches, 1740-1830 (CDA66924)
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)

Die Hirten auf dem Felder [1'27]
The King's Consort / Robert King
Soloists: James Bowman, Jonathan Kenny countertenors, Mark Padmore tenor
From The Christmas Story (CDA66398)
Anonymous medieval English

Procedenti puero [1'44]
Sinfonye / Stevie Wishart
Soloists: Vivian Ellis, Jocelyn West sopranos
From Gabriel's Greeting (CDA66685)
Spanish traditional

Riu, riu chiu [2'17]
The Sixteen / Harry Christophers
Soloist: Christopher Hodges bass
From Christmas Music From Medieval and Renaissance Europe (CDA66263)
Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599)

La luz de vuestros ojos [2'13]
A Capella Portuguesa / Owen Rees
From Masters of the Chapel Royal, Lisbon (CDA66725)
Giuseppe Valentini (1680-1759)

Presto from Sinfonia a tre, per Il Santissimo Natale Op 1 No 12 [3'58]
Northwest Chamber Orchestra of Seattle / Alun Francis
From Baroque Christmas Music (CDH55048)
Harold Darke (1888-1976)

In the bleak mid-winter [4'59]
Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell
soloists: Aaron Webber treble, Matthew Vine tenor
From Adeste fidelis (CDA66668)
Giovanni Gabrieli (c1555-1612)

Salvator noster [4'17]
The King's Consort / Robert King
From The Christmas Story (CDA66398)
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

In the bleak mid-winter [4'59]
Corydon Singers / Westminster Cathedral Choristers / Matthew Best
From A Boy was Born (CDA66126)
Traditional, arranged by Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988)

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child (The Coventry Carol) Op 25 No 2 [3'17]
Polyphony / Stephen Layton
Soloist: Emma Preston Dunlop soprano
From O Magnum Mysterium (CDA66925)
John Rutter (b1945)

Carol of the Children [3'14]
Holst Singers / Stephen Layton
From Music for Christmas by John Rutter (CDA67245)
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

There is no rose of such virtue [2'36]
Westminster Cathedral Choristers, Sioned Williams harp / David Hill
From A Ceremony of Carols (CDA66220)
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

O magnum mysterium [3'23]
Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell
From Poulenc Mass and Motets (CDA66664)
Orlandus Lassus (1532-1594)

Omnes de Saba [3'17]
The Sixteen / Harry Christophers
From Christmas Music From Medieval and Renaissance Europe (CDA66263)
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

Allegro from the `Christmas Concerto' Op 6 No 8 [2'17]
The Brandenburg Consort / Roy Goodman
From Corelli Concerti Grossi Op 6 (CDD22011)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), arranged by Philip Ledger (b1937)

Hark, the herald angels sing [3'10]
Westminster Cathedral Choir, Iain Simcock organ / James O'Donnell
From Adeste fidelis (CDA66668)
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

L'Adieu des Bergers [4'46]
Corydon Singers, Corydon Orchestra / Matthew Best
From L'Enfance du Christ (CDA66991/2)
Peter Cornelius (1824-1874)

Die Könige (`Three Kings from Persian lands afar') Op 8 No 2 [2'54]
Polyphony / Stephen Layton
Soloist: Robert Rice tenor

From Choral Music by Peter Cornelius (CDA67206)
Traditional, arranged by Andrew Carter (b1939)

O come, o come, Emmanuel [4'01]
St Paul's Cathedral Choir, Andrew Lucas organ / John Scott
From Advent at St Paul's (CDA66994)
Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)

Noël No 1 [2'34]
Christopher Herrick organ of St Rémy, Dieppe
From Daquin's Twelve Noëls (CDA66816)
Pedro de Cristo (c1550-1618)

Hodie nobis de coelo [2'18]
Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell
From Masterpieces of Portuguese Polyphony (CDA66512)
Michael Praetorius (c1571-1621)

Quem pastores laudavere [6'27]
Westminster Cathedral Choir, The Parley of Instruments / David Hill
From Christmas Music by Michael Praetorius (CDA66200)
John Tavener (b1944)

God is with us: A Christmas Proclamation [5'27]
St George's Chapel Choir, Windsor Castle, Roger Judd organ / Christopher Robinson
Soloist: James Oxley tenor
From Sacred Music by John Tavener (CDA66464)

Heaven forfend if there was some disaster and I had to flee my home suddenly, and couple only clutch a few Christmas CDs before going out the door - this would be the first one I would look for! When you look at the price of this disc you might think you are buying some really cheap collection culled from old, unwanted recordings by orchestras and choirs you've never heard of. This is not so. Rather, this CD contains some of the very best Christmas music from one of the world's leaders in classical music record production: the great Hyperion label from England. On this disc is one of the most beautiful recordings of In The Bleak Midwinter that I have ever heard. It's almost haunting. There's also some medieval songs that will become instant favorites, as well as a recording on an almost ancient organ. This is one of the great bargains available in Christmas music. If classical music, Christmas music, Church music, or medieval music are among genres that you love, I urge you to buy this. You'll be enjoying it well into January.

I think this cd features the only recording of "Drei Konige" in German to be found at mainstream retail outlets like Amazon. Some of the arrangement of familiar tunes ( I'm think of Veni, veni Emmanuel and Quem Pastores Laudavere) are the best I've ever heard. This album really does feature some of the best Advent/Christmas music from age to age; from "Procidenti Puero" to John Tavener's "A Christmas proclamation".

To be sure, it is not entirely free of cheese. John Rutter( while an eminently gifted composer and conductor) has managed to secure for himself the status "Andrew Lloyd Weber of church of music" , thanks to pieces like "Carol of the Children". For those of you who need some "cute" kitsch to welcome the baby Jesus, this won't be problematic.

I sure don't want to imply that this is a poor album. If you like classical music, you'll find much to enrich your soul here. However, when one considers the huge choice of classical Christmas offerings, this one just doesn't strike me as being above average for the genre.

For a larger overview of great classical Christmas music, I think "Christmas Adagios" is much more satisfying. "Christmas With Chanicleer" and "The #1 Christmas Album" are other highly pleasing and comprehensive collections, each with more that is familiar and can be related with.

However, if you have the chance to sample this, do so. But I do advise listening and comparing with other sets before buying.