Customer Reviews

Collection of Favourite Christmas Carols

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I had never heard of Lewis Ross (after all, no huge media conglomerate is hawking his work), yet I bought this album when I heard a selection played at a music store. I have given copies to others, and even the finickiest person on my list seemed to genuinely enjoy these fresh renderings of timeless carols. Why? Ross understands that "less is more." He only uses steel string acoustic guitars. There is a slight country twang to the arrangements, but rest assured, fellow urbanites, it never reaches the point where you smell cows in the hay. The arrangements are intricate yet the overall effect is simplicity, an apt musical offering to a baby born in a wooden creche, the baby who grew to become a carpenter. The strumming of a wooden guitar is such a soothing antidote to the electronic buzz of holiday shopping. Because this collection is simple and heartfelt, it is one of those rare albums that never grows tiresome upon repeating. I'm not one given to exaggeration, but I think it's one of the greatest Christmas albums of all time.

This is by far the best collection of Christmas music I have ever heard. I purchased the LP in the mid eighties, and I am thrilled to learn that it is being released on CD. Lewis Ross presents a fresh approach to traditional carols, with a style that is both cheerful and soothing.

I own this album in vinyl and have been looking for it on CD for several years. It is far and away the best collection of Christmas guitar music I have heard. Gentle, soothing, and nicely interpretive, it has more of a folk sound than a New Age sound--fuller, richer, less tinny than the typical New Age Christmas guitar recording. Even though it's a holiday album, it rewards listening any time of year.

I've been listening to this album since my mother got it on cassette. There's a follow-up Christmas album, too-- I think it's called Songs, Hymns, and Carols. This is a must-have album. I mean, when people hear it for the first time, they say, "I must have this album." Musically, it is a pleasure to listen to the excellent playing. But the mood is the real draw. This is the most mellow, good-natured approach to holiday music you will ever encounter. I play it in the car as an antidote to rush-hour stress and frantic last-minute shopping. Christmas wouldn't feel right without this album!

This unsung compilation of carols is played with understated and brilliant poise by Lewis Ross, self-styled 'Master of Guitars' and 'Practitioner of Musick' of the New American Guitar Ensemble.

Ross tosses off fifteen traditional Christian carols that embellish the religious legacy of Christmas--Santa Claus is not invited here and does not appear--with his highly accomplished touch on classical guitar.

The superb result repays both careful listening and background playing during Christmas dinner.

It is hard to recommend an album of Christmas music more highly than A Collection of Favourite Christmas Carols' deserves.

I do not know how I happened to get this music on tape. I have had it for years (maybe 18 or so). Every year I drag it out and play it. I thought by accident I left it in a boom box I gave to the good will. Of course I had nothing to tell me the name of the album or artist. The other day I found it in box of old tapes and thought I better see if I could get a CD. I am thrilled to find it here. It is a must have album for Christmas!

Linda

Heard this for years growing up in the 80's spending countless holidays in Santa Fe. My uncle had this and always played around the holidays. Heard it for the first time in about 15+ years in 2002 and was able to find it (sorry, not on Amazon then). Glad to see Amazon has this now as I personally think it is the best Holiday cd I own.

I discovered this gem in a bargain bin in 1984, on LP and have been searching ever since for a Cassette or CD. My LP is worn out. The renditions of favorite Christmas Carols are beautiful and masterfully played. Once you hear this recording, it will become a staple of your holiday tradition!!!!

It took two tries to find this album on Amazon.com, since the jacket bills the performer as "The New American Guitar Ensemble," and the "master of guitars," Lewis Ross, only appears in fine print.I am a steel string guitar player with my roots firmly planted in the 1960s folk tradition, and at times I hang out with other guitar players from that tradition. Among other things, we enjoy playing old hymns and Christmas carols in the coziness of our living rooms. This recording by Ross is pretty much the album my buddies and I would've recorded if we had ever bothered to do so. I say this just to help you capture the atmosphere of this music: it is an intimate instrumental rendering of these favorite carols. It doesn't break any new ground musically, but it treats these tunes with respect and affection.I often play this in the school library where I work, and most of my colleagues who have heard it are drawn to it. The students seem to enjoy it as well, despite the fact that it's not rock or uptempo music.This is one of my many favorite instrumental recordings of the holiday season. Highly recommended if you like folk-flavored steel string guitar.

I purchased the cassette of this glorious music while on vacation in Chicago several years ago. I can honestly say this music is one of the greatest joys in my life. My cassette is beginning to wear so I am very very grateful to see the music coming out in a CD version.