A Feast of Songs: Holiday Music from the Middle Ages

Barry and Beth Hall (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Barry and Beth Hall
• Audio CD (November 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Barry and Beth Hall
• ASIN: B00007IP55
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,316 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > International Folk
  • #50 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Renaissance (c.1450-1600)
  • #58 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Dances

Track Listings

1. Gaudete (Sweden, 16th century)

2. Patapan (France, traditional)

3. Il est ne le divin enfant (France, traditional)

4. Christmas eve (England, traditional)

5. Green growth the holly (King Henry VIII, c. 1520)

6. Mors vitae propitia (France c. 1200)

7. Quem pastores (Germany, 14th century)

8. The truth from above (England, traditional)

9. Christchurch bells (England, 14th century)

10. Jesuza Judasz przedal (Poland, 14th century)

11. Good King Wenceslas (England, 14th century)

12. Journey of the magi (improvisation)

13. In dulci jubilo (Germany, 14th century)

14. Personent hodie (Germany 1360, lyrics Sweden 1582)

15. Nous voici dans la ville (France, 15th century)

16. Noel nouvelet (France, traditional)

17. Coventry carol (England, 16th century)

18. The holly and the ivy (England, traditional)

19. Hail, Mary, full of grace (England, 15th century)

20. Sir Christemas (England, 15th century)

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Barry and Beth Hall sing and play a variety of acoustic instruments including lute, dulcimer, viola, violin, mandolin, guitar, sitgar, flute, recorders, French horn, herald trumpet, doumbek, tar, bodhrán, tabor, tambourine, cymbals, Moroccan and African drums, and many other percussion instruments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Christmas CDs on the Planet, December 5, 2002

By 

Karen A. Decoster (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Feast of Songs: Holiday Music from the Middle Ages (Audio CD)

This is holiday music from the middle ages, by Barry and Beth Hall. They do performances of my favorite antique classics such as _Masters in the Hall_, _Quem Pastores Laudavere_ (a 14th-century Latin chant, performance reminiscent of a midnight monastic Gregorian chant, with deep-toned church bells and ritual drumming); _Mors Vitae Propitia_ (high energy 12th-century French song from Piae Cantiones, sung in Latin and accompanied by vielle, lute, flute and percussion); _Personent Hodie_ (medieval song from the Piae Cantiones, sung in Latin and accompanied by recorders, vielle, lute and percussion); and _Nous Voici Dans La Ville_ (haunting traditional French melody, performed on fiddle, mandolin and recorder).

Their sound is phenomenal, and this CD belongs in every Christmas collection.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Medieval Christmas CD--Ever!, December 31, 2003

By 

strega2 "strega2" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Feast of Songs: Holiday Music from the Middle Ages (Audio CD)

What a find this remarkable CD is! If you love authentic Medieval music, played with the authentic instruments of its time and sung in the same way that a nobleman's court of the 14th or 15th Century might have heard it--this is the one for you. Beth and Barry Hall, both very gifted musicians, offer the finest collection of European Medieval carols I have yet found, and I have a large collection of the music of this period. A Bravissima performance to be savored all year round. Good Lords and Ladies all, grab this one!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice!, January 14, 2003

By 

Damien F. Gray (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Feast of Songs: Holiday Music from the Middle Ages (Audio CD)

I have been listening to this album for two Christmas seasons and never seem to tire of it. The instrumental pieces are very well done, beautifully providing delicate, intricate harmonies. The vocal numbers are equally well done. There is a nice selection of songs, some familiar to the modern listener, and some providing a good introduction to medieval music. This is Christmas music for all ages.