6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas for those serious about folk music, September 2, 2000
This review is from: Songs Of Christmas From The Alan Lomax Collection (Audio CD)
This album is selected from the Alan Lomax collection of field recordings. The performance covers the range of quality normally found in such collections. It includes both music and spoken pieces. They range from the chant of a Catholic priest to instrumentals from the West Indies, from mummer plays to Rumanian carols.
Tracks that particularly catch my attention are: the midwinter horn solo from Holland; the Auinaldo from Spain with voice, guitar, clarinet and baritone horn; the music and story telling of Vera Ward Hall in No Room at the End/Last Month of the Year; I must mention Sherburne as I sing with a shaped-note group; O Day from the Georgia Sea Islands. These tracks appeal to me musically - I would have a separate list for those most informative regarding Christmas traditions in Spain, Italy, British Isles, Southern US ...
An excellent recording for the hard-core folk musician but not necessarily for the generic listener.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Humble and Grand, November 27, 2000
This review is from: Songs Of Christmas From The Alan Lomax Collection (Audio CD)
As a child, my mother sang Christmas songs over me to lull me to sleep. Her voice wasn't trained, but the sound was lovely and heartfelt. Listening to this CD allows me to listen to other ancestors in other lands performing in the same untrained but honest way. Regardless of the musician's skills, the spirit of Christmas lives in these recordings. Primary sources can be fun too!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
