A Renaissance Christmas / Cohen, Boston Camerata

Joel Cohen (Artist), Boston Camerata (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005IXX
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,406 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #1 in	Music > Classical > Sacred & Religious > Magnificats
  #1 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( B ) > Boston Camerata
  #1 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( D ) > Dufay, Guillaume

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent lessons and carols, September 17, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This cd is constructed as lessons and carols i.e. Biblical readings interspered between the music. This structures the music into seven parts: (1) rejoice, rejoice (2) behold the handmaiden (3) Jospeh is well married (4) the birth of Jesus (5) Herod and the Magi (6) the shepherds at the cradle and (7) the Good News.

Several of the pieces are well known - the Swedish Gaudete, Gaudete; the Catalan E la don don; the Spanish Riu, riu, chiu; Jospeh, lieber Joseph mein by Johann Walter; Es ist ein Ros'entsprunger by Michael Praetorius ... but the rendition and context of these pieces makes them sparkle as if new.

A minor complaint: Tau Garco, La Durundena is not provided with a translation of the words, merely a paraphrase with the comment that it is an obscure Catalan song on the nativity.

As usual, the Boston Camerata is well trained - the words are clear, the voices blend well and the instrumentation complements their performance.

This is an album that belongs in a basic Christmas collection.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Most Excellent Christmas Album!, December 10, 1999

By	"gabysgoodys" (Provo, Utah) - See all my reviews

A few years ago, while my belongings were in storage, among many, many other things that were stolen, I lost this CD and have been pineing away for another copy ever since. Of all the Christmas music available, this is the one I prefer to listen to the most, since for me, it embodies the true spirit of the season, and joy of man at the birth of the Savior. If anyone has ever lived in Europe for any length of time and been exposed to traditional European Christmas music, no matter if it was England, France, Spain, The Netherlands (my European home-away-from-home) or Germany, there is something on this CD to remind you of the earthy, closeness many people there still have to this most wonderful season. It is centuries and worlds removed from the "Ho Ho Ho", credit-card world we know so well in America, and for this reason and so very much more, I can personally recommend this most unique CD and commend those who have crafted it with a full and thankful heart.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply one of the best Christmas albums on the market., December 25, 2004

By	Homeschooling Single Mom - See all my reviews

There is nothing to criticize on this CD, along with its wonderful companions, Medeival Christmas and Baroque Christmas. The singing is absolutely masterful; the instrumentation is faithful to what would've been used during the time period for additional authenticity. The narration in the various accents, taken directly from the story of the nativity in the Bible, really strings the different songs togheter. The various offerings from around the world connects the listener to two thousand years of Christmas tradition. We are of Catalan descent, so we were especially pleased to find "Tau Garçó, la Durundena," an ancient Catalan madrigal, but my personal favorite is the reverent, perfectly realized "O Magnum Mysterium" (Oh, Greatest of Mysteries), which has to be one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written. I have heard this song performed by many choirs and madrigal groups, and this CD's version is by far the most beautiful I've ever heard.

The music on this CD is so timeless and rich in quality and history that I actually listen to it year round, but it adds a special sparkle to holiday celebrations in a way that "Jingle Bell Rock" can never hope to achieve. :) This series is a real gift to the music world and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.