Improvisations for Christmas

Jean Guillou (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dorian Recordings
• ASIN: B000001Q82
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,780 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Toccata on "Jingle Bells"

2. Rondo on "The First Noël"

3. Scherzo on "Wassail Song"

4. Cavatina on "Angels We have Heard on High"

5. Invention on "Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn"

6. Fantasy and Fugue on Christmas carols

7. Fantasy and Fugue on Christmas carols

8. Litanie on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

9. Capriccio on "O Christmas Tree"

10. Divertimento on "Joy to the World"

11. Variations on "Of the Father's Love Begotten"

12. Pastorale on "The Holly and the Ivy"

13. Postlude on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Appalling Misfire From A Great Organist, December 7, 2010

By 

James S. Eisenberg - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Improvisations for Christmas (Audio CD)

When I first heard this I nicknamed it 'the vampire's Christmas'. Everything from the lowering drawing of the performer on the cover to the choice of materiel for the improvisations is misjudged . I had picked it up in a post-holiday sale bin. (Exactly where it belongs.)
Guillou is one of the world's great organists, but that doesn't guarantee good taste or good sense.
It represents one of the very few misfires for both performer and for the Dorian label.
I can't imagine why anybody would want to listen to it for anything other than Guillou's improvisatory skills and extraordinary technique.
Not the Christmas CD to curl up with with your family !
Dorian (circa 1988) wins back some points for the excellent sound recording.

5.0 out of 5 stars Avant-garde, September 29, 2009

By 

L'éternel sourire "L'éternel sourire" (Québec City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Improvisations for Christmas (Audio CD)

L'organiste français Jean Guillou est un avant-gardiste dans la continuité d'Olivier Messiaen; même lorsqu'il interprète des "classiques" de Noël, son style étonnant s'apparente davantage à Edgar Varese, Frank Zappa, ou Jimi Hendrix. Il "décontruit" les oeuvres pour se les réapproprier. Ce n'est pas la manière conventionnelle de jouer ces oeuvres; au contraire, il les transcende avec beaucoup d'intensité. Souvent reversant, mais à prendre à petites doses.