The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas

Christmas Traditional (Composer), Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Ritson Manscript Anonymous (Composer), Katherine K. Davis (Composer), Gregorian Chant (Composer), John Francis Wade (Composer), Franz Xaver Gruber (Composer), Rolf Smedvig (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Laurie Monahan (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Laurie Monahan
• Composer: Christmas Traditional, Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Ritson Manscript Anonymous, Katherine K. Davis, et al.
• Audio CD (October 15, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003D1J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,998 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #67 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Classical Instrumental

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly unique and beautiful Christmas album, November 3, 2001

By 

Nancy Moran (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas (Audio CD)

I had a hard time finding this in Amazon.com's "Popular Music" database. I found out why - it was in "Classical" and Amazon.com knew best. I had to go through "All Products" to find out.

Empire Brass took nineteen familiar holiday tunes (including "Arabian Dance") and arranged them NOT necessarily for brass (and Empire Brass is quite a quintet), but PERCUSSION - bells, cymbals, glass beads, bongos, whatnot, acoustic as well as electronic - PLUS electric and acoustic guitar and violin. What the resulting group does with rhythm and syncopation and string is probably not duplicated in any other album, Christmas or otherwise.

On seven of the nineteen cuts, you will hear the rich voice of soprano Laurie Monahan really "deliver the goods" also in a unique way.

You will hear these familiar holiday songs in a brand new way and in a way you've never heard before. I am very glad I added this album to my now very extensive Christmas collection.

Empire Brass has my admiration for their musicianship and sense of history. Don't miss out on the "Oh! G" medley on Track 18 - the Brass really strut their versatility. Warning: "Joy to the World", the conclusion, is really surprising done Dixieland with drums done "Buddy Rich" style.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strikingly original,gorgeous,only one odd track, October 25, 2002

By 

Christian Ellithorpe "ellithorpeillustrations" (Streamwood, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas (Audio CD)

Strikingly original, gorgeous, and someday this will likely be considered a Classic. Christmas CDs are a penny-a-dozen, and they often take a safe, predictable route, but this one is a true original. On this CD, the Empire Brass' arrangements are often haunting, as, for example one of the opening arrangements of "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen". Some tracks explore Middle Eastern territory- a VERY appropriate, usually unexplored theme, considering Jesus' birthplace. Quiet tracks like "Bring a torch" have feeling of quiet snow falling on a medieval village centuries ago in Europe somewhere. Others are wildly, ecstatically played ; "The Holly & the Ivy" for example. Some carols features very original & exciting percussion - but none of it overbearing; the percussion stays in the background & does not overtake the other players. A beautiful medieval track is a real gem-"Ave Regina Caelorum" is quietly played by the brass with the wonderful soprano soloist. This one has an appropriaterly mysterious air, filled with wonder & pathos. As does the frequently recorded "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", but here it is arranged differently than I've ever heard, as if I'd heard the words for the very first time. As usual, Telarc's recording is very realistic & with great dynamic range. There's only one track that seems a bit odd because it follows a few very touching tracks at the end. It's a Dixieland/Ragtime flavored Take on "Joy to the World"; very creative, perhaps it would be better somewhere else on the disc. Overall, this is probably my favorite of dozens of Christmas CDs.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Eclectic Christmas Collection, December 3, 2003

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas (Audio CD)

Boston's Empire Brass' Christmas Album THE WORLD SINGS is an interesting mix of Christmas music. Listeners certainly will find Empire's polished and powerful sound in many of the tracks. While the group is a classically trained brass quintet, there are tracks that include contemporary musicians as well as a vocalist Laurie Monahan. The album includes many Christmas standards such as "Joy to the World," "Angels We Have Heard On High" and the like. Less familiar carols are included such as "Pat-a-pan" and "Still, Still, Still." A personal favorite is the group's unique rendition of the "Arabian Dance" from THE NUTCRACKER. People desiring a traditional brass quintet album will probably be better off looking at the Philadelphia Brass Ensembles A FESTIVAL OF CAROLS IN BRASS (a must have for all lovers of brass music), but listeners who enjoy creative sound rooted in classical music but open to contemporary music will certainly enjoy this wonderful collection.