Customer Reviews

A Festival Of Carols In Brass

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection is over thirty years old and it sets the standard for Christmas brass music. It would be my guess that many of people who already own this disc first purchased it as an LP. Others will purchase the disc because their parents and grandparents owned the disc and it has become a holiday musical tradition. Over the years it has been one of Columbia's best selling albums and listeners will easily understand why. Listeners will almost feel as if the Salvation Army Band is right outside serenading Christmas shoppers. Listeners will quickly discover that many of the tracks of this collection are familiar from radio play. Probably the most creative and perhaps best known arrangements are the group's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." You cannot go wrong purchasing this disc.

If you like to listen to the Salvation Army Band on a cold, wintry evening on a city street corner at Christmas (and who doesn't?), then this outstanding selection of Yuletide favorites is for you. The ensemble obviously enjoyed these recording sessions, for the playing is topnotch, without even the slightest suggestion of routine. The sound is also impressive, given the recording comes from the late 1960's. Most of the selections last less than two minutes, so the music never outstays its welcome. Highly recommended!

I've been looking for this ever since I left home in 1985 without stealing my mom's copy on vinyl -- big mistake. For some reason I thought it was by the Canadian Brass, which led to lots of disappointing CD purchases over the years.

The beautifully played traditional arrangements are better than most, and well worth having. But the real standout is the not-so-traditional Twelve Days of Christmas. It's AMAZING. So glad I've finally found it!

Several raters have complained about the lack of a listing of the performers on this disc. The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble was nothing more than the principal and second players of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Perhaps "nothing more" is not the best way to describe this as the performers were, at the time, some of the best players in the US. Gilbert Johnson (trumpet) was considered (until his death from cancer a few years ago) one of the finest trumpeters to ever have played in a symphony orchestra. When I was growing up, Henry Charles Smith (trombone) was the model we all looked up to for how a orchestral principal trombone should sound. He was the Joseph Alessi of the time. The same could be said for Mason Jones (french horn) and Abe Torchinsky (tuba). All of these players had students who are playing in major symphony orchestras around the world and continue to inspire future performers through their many recordings. To my knowlege, the performers are:

Gilbert Johnson (Trumpet)
Seymour Rosenfeld (Trumpet)
Mason Jones (French Horn)
Henry Charles Smith (Trombone)
Tyrone Breuninger (Trombone)
M. Dee Stewart (Euphonium)
Abe Torchinsky (Tuba)

Cheers!

What makes this recording so good is its simplicity. Most the the arrangements in this CD are direct transcriptions of the original vocal carols. The Brass color is perfectly blended with the textures and harmonies of each piece giving them a pure "Christmas Sound." The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble has done and excellent job with the rendering of these carols. It was truly a blessing when this recording was finally put on CD! Andrew Kazdin's arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a classic and one of the best versions around.

A Must for all Brass Players!

I have had two copies of this album on Tape, and am now purchasing the CD. We have worn out both of the tapes because we have listened to them so much. When you walk into a very nice store at Christmas, and hear truly excellent Christmas Brass playing, it is probably this recording. I highly recommend this album, for year round enjoyment.

Since the release of this fine recording in 1967 there have been many fine
brass groups:The Canadian Brass, the Empire Brass, just to name a few.
Whereas these latter groups have all resorted to "gimmicks" such as unique arrangements to sell their albums this group of brass players from the Philadelphia Orchestra give us an album of good old "meat and potatoes" playing spiced with fine tone,good ensemble playing, and good tempos.

I bought this on vinyl about 25 years ago, and was delighted to find it on CD recently. I am a brass player and enjoy listening to good brass ensemble music, but so much of it is poorly done that it makes my ears want to close up! Not so with this album-- it's superb musicianship all the way, a joy for the discerning musical ear, or mellow at low volume as background music.

This CD is far and away one of the finest Christmas
Cd's you will own--just pure, wonderful holiday music
played by outstanding musicians

I bought this when it first came out on cd in the early '90's. What a glorious experience it is to listen to. This recording is from 1967. It was remixed from the master tapes for the cd release. The recording is bright, sharp and crisp. The preformances are energetic and full of feeling. Also, the song selection is fantastic. Lots of traditional Christmas favorites, Lo How a Rose, We Three Kings, The Coventry Carol, Bring a Torch, Good Christian Men Rejoice and 20 more. This is one of my favorite Christmas albums. I play it all through the Christmas season. It has such a jolly feel to it. It's real Christmas music. If you love Christmas brass music and have not heard this yet, buy it. You can play it through Little Christmas on January 6th. But, if it's not Christmas time and you see it, buy it! and store it away until next Christmas. Enjoy!