Classic Christmas Carols

King's College Choir (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emi Classics
• ASIN: B000YRNXV2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,480 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Lullabies & Berceuse
  • #7 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Anthems
  • #12 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Keyboard > Organ

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Once in Royal David's City (descant Willcocks)

2. Ding Dong! Merrily on High (arr. Willcocks)

3. O Come, All Ye faithful (arr. Willcocks)

4. The Holly and the Ivy (arr. Walford Davies)

5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (arr. Willcocks)

6. Silent Night (arr. Willcocks)

7. While Shepherds Watched (descant Willcocks)

8. In the Bleak Midwinter (Darke)

9. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (arr. Willcocks)

10. The Lamb (Tavener)

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The First Nowell (arr. Stainer)

2. In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Pearsall)

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (descant Armstrong)

4. I Saw Three Ships (arr. Ledger)

5. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (descant Willcocks)

6. Away in a Manger (arr. Ledger)

7. Sussex Carol (arr. Willcocks)

8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Willcocks)

9. Myn Lyking (Terry)

10. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (Poston)

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge has always been synonymous with Christmas -- from the yearly television broadcast of their Lessons and Carols service to their numerous best-selling albums of Christmas songs and masses. EMI Classics is proud to present a 2-CD compilation of their greatest Christmas carol recordings -- just in time for the holidays!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No better choir anywhere, January 19, 2009

By 

R. C. Ligget (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Classic Christmas Carols (Audio CD)

This is an impressive collection of well-known carols along with some that are likely unfamiliar to many people. All the better, as it exposes the listener to a great variety of beautiful Christmas music. Unlike the O Come All Ye Faithful cd, this sounds as if it was recorded in the church and not a sound studio. Some will like that, others might not. The arrangements are wonderful, different from what I'm used to in many of the carols. A terrific recording and needed by any devotee of this wonderful choir.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspired Performance, November 22, 2010

By 

Sagely Diva (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Christmas Carols (Audio CD)

King's College Choir, most famously under the direction of Sir David Willcocks, has performed and recorded a large body of Christmas carol work arranged for a cappella, orchestral, organ and resounding Brass Choir accompaniments. "Classic Christmas Carols" provides a generous sampling of over 50 pieces, some of which appear on other CD compilations. This collection contains consistently inspired arrangements, outstanding soloists, well organized and disciplined choral singing, supreme moments of thunderous organ and brass alongside breathtaking moments of quiet. It is a classic, and if your holiday music collection does not contain any works from King's College Choir, you would do well to include this as your first. All were recorded in the Chapel of King's College in Cambridge, providing a less studio-perfect sound with more resonance and "human-ness" due to a more "live" setting. For me, it provides a refreshing alternative to a studio recorded or digitally compiled and mixed collection.

Most pieces hang together quite well, although there are a few problematic variable volume registrations from piece to piece, requiring one to be close to the volume button to make adjustments. This is not as problematic as some other compilations, and not so frequent to be overly bothersome. If you are in your car, it is simple to occasionally make an adjustment; however, in your home, you or a guest would need to be nearby to ensure enjoyment of the whole collection. While this collection does indeed contain some of the best of the best of King's College Choir recordings, and is among my favorites, the lack of a full final-edit causes me to rate it 4 stars.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Choral Christmas Music, December 16, 2008

By 

G. M. MCNAIR (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Classic Christmas Carols (MP3 Download)

This is, basically what it says, classic Christmas music done by a good choir and a wonderful organist.

The sound is great, the choir is dead on, and the music is beautiful and traditional.....no surprises here.....good or bad. Plus, it's eight bucks for essentially what is a two disc set.....fifty three songs.

If you are looking for a nice traditional Christmas album, you could do a whole lot worse.