Customer Reviews

Noël: Carols & Chants for Christmas - Anonymous 4 (4 CD Set)

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This is a great compilation of Anonymous 4 Christmas music - but it is NOT new. It simply boxes 4 existing CDs together. The CDs are Legends of St. Nicholas, Wolcum Yule, On Yoolis Night, and A Star in the East. If you already have those CDs, there is nothing new here.

I will just reiterate that this is a compilation of 4 existing CDs- Legends of St. Nicholas, Wolcum Yule, On Yoolis Night, and A Star in the East. If you don't own any of them, or even if you just own one of them, I would strongly suggest buying this set, since you'll save a lot of money from buying each disc individually.

Anonymous 4 performs all the music flawlessly. If you're looking for Christmas music that lifts up the spirit, you can't do much better than these recordings. Legends of St. Nicholas is an interesting and beautiful collection of chants devoted to the historical figure Nicholas of Myra (who became Santa Clause in our culture); Wolcum Yule is focused on Christmas songs from the British isles, some of them familiar and some not- after listening to Britten's "New Year Carol" on the "Wolcum Yule" CD, I wish people would replace Auld Lang Syne with that on New Year's celebrations; "On Yoolis Night" focuses on Christmas music from the Medieval period and is a must-listen for any early music lover; "A Star in the East" is a sublime and haunting collection of music from medieval Hungary- you won't find music like this anywhere else. What can I say? Highly recommended- this is perfect music to listen to this holiday season, and particularly when you're at home on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

The previous reviewer is correct - this isn't new music, so if you already have these albums, do not buy this set.

However, if you don't have these albums (or have never heard of the Anonymous 4), this is a BEAUTIFUL collection of their Christmas music. These women have amazing voices and, on top of that, a wonderful way of bringing to life music that had been thought dead since the Middle Ages. I am particularly fond of their music about St. Nicholas, being deeply interested in medieval hagiography. You simply must add this collection to your personal stash of music!

I recently read that there are really two Christmas holidays: the federally-recognized secular "day off", and the true holy day. Quite true. If you seek to return to the latter, look no farther than this collection of music that harkens back to when Christians really understood the significance of the day. The angelic voices of Anonymous 4 will quickly become a seasonal favorite.

This 4-CD set is simply a compilation of previously published volumes.
This was not disclosed in the product description.
If you already have On Yoolis Night or other Christmas volumes you do not need this set.

Don't get me wrong. I love Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." But if you're willing to listen to something outside the traditional--at least 20th Century traditional--Anonymous 4 will leave you mesmerized. At the risk of sounding hackneyed, this female vocal quartet creates sounds that are truly heavenly.

I purchased this box set of four previously released albums a year ago and it was one of my most played CDs last year. (And my holiday music collection is in the hundreds!) With the holiday season fast approaching, I am jumping on the bandwagon of the other reviewers who have been singing the praises of Anonymous 4.

CAROLS & CHANTS FOR CHRISTMAS contains the following four CDs:

LEGENDS OF ST. NICHOLAS (1999 According to the 156-page booklet, the quartet uses melodic formulas found in contemporary Middle English song and chant to present the legend of St. Nicholas. [Running time: 69:46]

WOLCUM YULE (2003 This is the newest of the four CDs included and features the quartet's newest member Jacqueline Horner (who replaced founding member Ruth Cunningham, who rejoined in 2007). Also new to this collection of Celtic and British songs and carols is that many of them are sung in English. In addition, many of the tracks feature harpist Andrew Lawrence-King. (The other three CDs are a capella. [Running time: 66:27]

ON YOOLIS NIGHT (1994 As founding member Susan Hellauer states in the booklet, the music on this disc spans a thousand years, from the 5th Century hymn "A Solis Ortus Cardine" to 15th Century carols like "Allelua: A Nywe Werke." [Running Time: 68:03]

A STAR IN THE EAST (1996) This is the original title of the album; it is now packaged under the title CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM MEDIEVAL HUNGARY. [Running time: 68:22]

The spirituality of this music is nothing short of amazing. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

What a gentle counterpoint to the hideous, commercialized Christmas tunes that assail our ears this time of year. Light some candles, kick back with a cup of spiced wine and enjoy this lush compilation of song and chant from the never-disappointing Anonymous 4.

I found this set online around Christmas time and although with the holidays and shipping time it arrived three weeks into the new year, it is a joy to listen to. The range of the musical selections is excellent and the singing is just superb. I look forward to playing this for guests at the holiday at the end of the year.

At work, I use this music as background music. My fellow workers call my office the cathedral! These ladies really are outstanding. If you enjoy Gregorian Chants buy it!

I am a music lover but can't hold a note to save my life. I don't even try hymns at church.
I was introduced the Anonymous 4 by NPR - one of those drive-way moments you hear about. It was a Saturday afternoon interview and I was mesmerised. Say no more.
Equally so, years ago I was walking past the basement TV during a Johnny Carson show. He was interviewing the Roaches, three sisters Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche. I was stopped in my tracks, at first I couldn't believe what I was hearing...everything sounded off-key, even the guitars. Then I realized what an outstanding talented trio they are and was floored when they sang the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.
Find out the rest for yourselves.
(ps. my wife thinks they sound like cats on the fence at night, but agrees on the immense talent.)