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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have a fairly extensive collection of classical music, and Christmas music as well. This compilation, featuring mostly little known groups, is charming. Yes, one can find better performances of many of these works, but that quest is only for the obsessive audiophile. The choral works are recorded clearly. One problem I've often had with recording by excellent groups such as the King's College Choir is that they sound like they were recorded in a cathedral (and perhaps they were) so there is a lot of music and enunciation lost in the reverberation. There are a few instances where I wish the tempos were faster, but on the other hand this is a set to listen to while relaxing around the fire. A nice bonus -- the music from the Nutcracker features lots of the lesser known (but still beautiful) tunes, not just the ones one normally hears in a suite. And the inclusion of the more serious classical pieces by Bach, Corelli, etc., is fitting and a great addition.
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
This is a fine collection -- some of it genuine classical music written in celebration of the holiday, some of it traditional and popular Christmas music arranged for orchestras, choirs and the like.
There are also a number of tracks that really had nothing to do with Christmas originally, but still manage to stake a claim to the Christmas theme. These are mainly selections from sacred works whose lyrics, often in Latin, refer to the birth of Jesus Christ in various ways -- such as Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus", César Franck's "Panis Angelicus", and many others featured here.
Finally, a few tracks have no claim on Christmas at all -- like Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto, Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, or a selection from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". But no matter, these are good pieces that still fit adequately into the general mood of the set.
With only a few exceptions (such as a below par performance of Bach's "Air on a G String"), these are very good performances in good quality sound.
The track listing indicates that tracks 9-26 are the Nutcracker Suite (Op 71a), but it really these are the full Nutcracker Ballet (Op 71). These are the same recordings featured by the X5 group on its Tchaikovsky set, so if you have that one you'll be getting some duplication here. The same can be said for people with some of the collections of Baroque music, or of composers like Bach or Vivaldi.
For me, the bona fide classical tracks are more successful than the carols that have been dressed up for orchestra and chorus. The latter can sound very sugary in a way that music composed for classical performance usually does not. But that is a matter of personal taste, and yours may be different.
As with all these "99 Most Essential" sets from X5, bitrates are variable. Average rates for the tracks vary between 155 and 256 kbps, but only a handful are below 200 kbps. This collection is shorter than most of the sets in the series, at just 5 hours and 56 minutes. Total download size is "only" 582 MB.
I am always glad to expand my Christmas music collection, and this set is a terrific bargain at the special offer price. Recommended.
There are also a number of tracks that really had nothing to do with Christmas originally, but still manage to stake a claim to the Christmas theme. These are mainly selections from sacred works whose lyrics, often in Latin, refer to the birth of Jesus Christ in various ways -- such as Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus", César Franck's "Panis Angelicus", and many others featured here.
Finally, a few tracks have no claim on Christmas at all -- like Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto, Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, or a selection from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". But no matter, these are good pieces that still fit adequately into the general mood of the set.
With only a few exceptions (such as a below par performance of Bach's "Air on a G String"), these are very good performances in good quality sound.
The track listing indicates that tracks 9-26 are the Nutcracker Suite (Op 71a), but it really these are the full Nutcracker Ballet (Op 71). These are the same recordings featured by the X5 group on its Tchaikovsky set, so if you have that one you'll be getting some duplication here. The same can be said for people with some of the collections of Baroque music, or of composers like Bach or Vivaldi.
For me, the bona fide classical tracks are more successful than the carols that have been dressed up for orchestra and chorus. The latter can sound very sugary in a way that music composed for classical performance usually does not. But that is a matter of personal taste, and yours may be different.
As with all these "99 Most Essential" sets from X5, bitrates are variable. Average rates for the tracks vary between 155 and 256 kbps, but only a handful are below 200 kbps. This collection is shorter than most of the sets in the series, at just 5 hours and 56 minutes. Total download size is "only" 582 MB.
I am always glad to expand my Christmas music collection, and this set is a terrific bargain at the special offer price. Recommended.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I stumbled on this collection and decided I would give it a try. I love it! There are songs for everyone. It's great background music for a Christmas party and it includes so many wonderful carols. Perfect for when you get tired of hearing the same old songs on the radio.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still listening in February!
I've really enjoyed listening to this album. The value is amazing! While I don't enjoy every song, you get 99 of them for under $6 so I can't really complain. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Beatrice M.
Not Up To 99 Essential's Usual Standards
This one should be retitled "99 Most Essential Worst Arrangements."
I bought it for the carols because I have most of the other pieces. Read more
I bought it for the carols because I have most of the other pieces. Read more
Published 4 months ago by B. Buehler
Christmas Songs? Really?
I was very interested in this "album" but I gave up as soon as I could read the song list. This collection is a little bit strange. Read more
Published 5 months ago by C. J. Osorio
Worst 99 I've downloaded so far
Here are the reasons:
1. Some songs have very low volumes and you can hardly hear them;
2. There are a bunch of songs are not Christmas themed;
3. Read more
1. Some songs have very low volumes and you can hardly hear them;
2. There are a bunch of songs are not Christmas themed;
3. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sturm und Drang
The BEST holiday album I've found!
If you're like me, and you don't want over-stylized, modernized, crappy holiday music piped through your home for a month straight, get this album. Read more
Published 16 months ago by rant79
A No-Brainer!
How can you go wrong? For a $1.99 -- GET 'EM! Of course if you really like all that "saccharin" "holiday" fare that's played on the airwaves and over store loudspeakers then this... Read more
Published 17 months ago by P. Kraft
great bang for buck!
what a beautiful classic Christmas collection.
i especially love the included Nutcracker collection. definitely worth your $2!
i especially love the included Nutcracker collection. definitely worth your $2!
Published 17 months ago by Raj
Great Collection!
Wow, $2.00 for all of this? If you enjoy classical Christmas music instead of "Frosty the Snowman," you can't go wrong. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jay
Honestly Impressed
I think we've all been there. You find a "deal" on music but it never lives up to personal expectations. That's because you get what you paid for right? Read more
Published 17 months ago by kirsten e miller
Wonderful collection
This mostly instramental collection makes excellent background music at a Christmas party. Its missing some pieces I would consider essential, and if you are looking for lots of... Read more
Published 17 months ago by W. Wexell
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