In Terra Pax: A Christmas Anthology

Finzi (Artist), Holst (Artist), Doyle (Artist), City of London Choir (Artist), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Various (Composer), Wetton (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Wetton
• Composer: Various
• Audio CD (November 17, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B002QEXBYA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,891 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #91 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, December 2, 2009

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[e-mail] (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: In Terra Pax: A Christmas Anthology (Audio CD)

This is an absolutely gorgeous CD, wonderful in every way. I have been playing it at least once every day because it fills my house and heart with such a joyful sound. It has moved to the top of my favorites list and I suspect it will stay there for a very long time regardless of the season. It is one of the most interesting and beautiful collections I have ever heard. I am so happy I found it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Christmas Music, December 17, 2009

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D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Terra Pax: A Christmas Anthology (Audio CD)

In Terra Pax takes its name from an evocative Christmas work by Gerald Finzi. The works on the disc are from some well-known composers. It begins with a medley of Christmas carols in a work called "Christmas Day" by Gustav Holst. This charming work for orchestra, soloists and chorus presents many favorite carols. This is followed by short selections by Joubert (There is no rose), Mathias (Sir Christemas) and Howells (Here is the little door and A spotless Rose) for unaccompanied chorus (except for the Mathias where an organ is included). These carols are, for me, unfamiliar and are a nice discovery.

"In terra pax - Christmas scene" is the major work of the disc and is scored for orchestra, baritone, soprano and chorus. The music paints a picture of a frosty night on Christmas Eve in a long introduction before the baritone sings a word picture of pealing bells and distant music. A mixed chorus sings verses from the gospel of Saint Luke with a brief solo for soprano. The music settles into a depiction of the winter's landscape and the baritone resumes his reflections. The charming Three carols of Peter Warlock are for orchestra and chorus and soprano and include "Tyrley, tyrlow"," Balulalow" and "As I sat under a sycamore tree." This is followed by "A hymn of the Nativity" by Kenneth Leighton, a work that begins with a solo soprano who is joined by a male chorus and then a mixed chorus of women and men. This is a beautifully conceived work evoking the nativity with simply but with great effect.

The familiar hymn "What sweeter music" by John Rutter follows and finds an excellent companion piece with Tomorrow shall be my dancing day by John Gardner. Both works are for mixed chorus with the Gardner including a piano and tambourine. Another carol by Mathias - "A Babe is born" - for organ and mixed chorus relates the reaction of shepherds and the three kings to the birth of Jesus. The final selection is by Ralph Vaughan Williams and is a setting of four carols - "Children's Christmas song", "Wassail song", "In Bethlehem city" and "God bless the Master."

The music on this disc is beautifully performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the City of London Choir. Julia Doyle and Roderick Williams are superb and conductor Hilary Daven Wetton provides sensitive direction. This magnificent Christmas music disc should not be missed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas at springtime, May 9, 2010

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Review from NC "Reviewer from NC" (North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: In Terra Pax: A Christmas Anthology (Audio CD)

I have a very large collection of Christmas albums, but I usually try to hold out on purchases until at least November. However, when I heard this selection of Gustav Holst's Christmas Day on a BBC Music download, I decided to break down and buy the album in April. I had to at least give the entire album a listen, even over Easter. I love choral albums of the "old" Christmas music, so I'm looking forward to November. I expect this will spend quite a bit of time in my CD player starting around Thanksgiving.