Customer Reviews

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I (as others reviewing this CD) remember these recordings as a child. They have included most (but not all) of the original LP "Joy to the World", which was entirely sung a-cappella. In this release, they have interspersed the a-cappella carols with big orchestrated numbers. But what stays in the mind, in the soul, are the beautiful a-capella hymns, and especially the less-known ones: the versions of "Pat-A-Pan" and The Carol of the Bells, to cite two examples, are exquisite. Some of the wonderful and rare carols included are "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella", "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day", "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" (one of the oldest carols in English), The Coventry Carol, and "I Wonder As I Wander (one of the earliest native American carols). Of all the albums we listened to while I was growing up, this is the one for which I have the deepest love. Even in its hybridized form, it's great to have it on CD!

Compared to other collections of Christmas carols, this shines forth as the standard. It is as if Shaw tried not to "interpret" these classics, but rather perform them "as they were intended to be performed." I think you'll agree.

In 1987, I bought the cassette of the re-release. I played it even as it was so worn it squeaked. It was years before I was able to find it on the Internet (thanks, Amazon.com) and replace my worn-out tape.

There is such an immediacy and current feeling to these recordings that it seems hard to believe that they were made in 1957 and 1963. The reissue of 1987 was a welcome return of an old friend. Alas, it appears that that reissue is no longer available. One can only hope that that will not remain the situation for long.

This is an excellent and varied selection of carols, and the CD provides an hour-plus of extremely enjoyable listening.

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

These words are no surprise to those familiar with choral music in the United States. If you are not so familiar, but would like to enjoy Christmas music at its most beautiful, you can do no better than acquiring this CD.

In my collection of over 100 classical Christmas CD's, I keep coming back to this. Recorded long ago with with a smaller group of professionals (rather than the monster semi-pro group in Atlanta), the Robert Russel Bennett medleys (aka The Many Moods of Christmas) sparkle, and the a capella Parker-Shaw performances instill wonder. Back then Mr. Shaw evoked just enough schmaltz; i.e. notice in We Three Kings how they attack "Star of WON-der" or the immaculate articulation of ". . . to touch their harps of gold" in It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.

And what a bargain! RCA has just re-released another old version of the MMoC medleys alone, or you can pay full Telarc price for a modern digital recording. But in this you get both. 71 minutes. What a festival.

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

Brilliant. Masterful. Flawlessly performed and brilliantly arranged. Spiritually uplifting and musically mesmerizing. The a cappella material, recorded in 1957, includes a version of "Shepherd's Carol" that must have had composer William Billings smiling down on RCA Studios.  This wonderful work has never been done greater justice, at least not in my listening experience. The accompanied tracks, from 1963, include a no-nonsense opening medley that gives the listener a taste of the astonishing and joyous sounds to come, as well as a version of "What Child Is This?" that immediately stills any muttered gripes of, "Not THIS again." This is frighteningly good music of a middle-brow type that, to every music lover's great loss, no longer exists. Get this extraordinary Christmas CD in your collection now!!!

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."