While Shepherds Watched - Christmas Music from English Parish Churches 1740-1830 /Psalmody * Parley of Instruments * Holman [Import]

Michael Beesly (Composer), English Anonymous (Composer), John Christopher Smith (Composer), Pieter Hellendaal (Composer), Joseph Key (Composer), Samuel Arnold (Composer), Thomas Clark (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Thomas Jarman (Composer), Samuel Wesley (Composer), William [2] [Composer] Matthews (Composer), John Foster (Composer), Parley of Instruments (Performer), Psalmody (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Parley of Instruments, Psalmody
• Composer: Michael Beesly, English Anonymous, John Christopher Smith, Pieter Hellendaal, Joseph Key, et al.
• Audio CD (November 8, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZYY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,839 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks By Night

2. Let An Anthem Of Praise

3. While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks By Night

4. Pastorale (Concerto In E Flat, Op. 3/4)

5. Hark! How All The Welkin Rings

6. Hush! My Dear, Lie Still And Slumber

7. As Sheperds Watched Their Fleecy Care

8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

9. While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks By Night

10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Georgia)

11. There Were Sheperds Abibing In The Field

12. Rondo On 'God rest you merry gentlemen'

13. Angel From The Realm Of Glory

14. Hymning Seraphs Wake The Morning

15. While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks By Night

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give yourself a real treat for Christmas, May 21, 2008

By 

scott (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: While Shepherds Watched - Christmas Music from English Parish Churches 1740-1830 /Psalmody * Parley of Instruments * Holman (Audio CD)

I love Christmas music. I always have, and look forward to getting all my favourites out all autumn. There are a few cheesy, modern albums I get some fun out of, but as a fan of early music, I really cherish those recordings of Christmas music that are faithful to the spirit of the times from when the music was written. I do not go in for the modern, pop-inspired arrangements at all. Thus, I am always on the search for great performances of old Christmas music that I don't know, and this album is one of the best ever made!

Peter Holman as taken the neglected repertoire of Christmas music from English parish churches in the Georgian period, and reproduced it in all its provincial splendor. A lot of the texts are familiar; While shepherds watched their flocks, Hark! the herald angels sing, and Angels from the realm of glory, but the musical settings will be totally new to you, I am sure. I won't go into specifics, but everything here is totally pleasing, and breathes new life into these oft-heard words. There were some really talented composers toiling away in the parish churches of the English country-side in the generation after Handel.

The performances are totally sympathetic, and match the spirit of the music perfectly. I'm sure this music probably never sounded this good when it was first heard, but Holman and his friends never make it sound too polished or professional. There is just a hint of the rustic, amateur feel that would have been the situation in the 18th century.

I cannot praise this CD enough, and implore you to get it. There is a sequel which is equally good called "Nativity". Get it too. Christmas never sounded so wonderful.