On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets [IMPORT]

Anonymous 4 (Artist), Marsha Genensky (Artist), Susan Hellauer (Artist), Johanna Rose (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi France.
• ASIN: B0000007DY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,212 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( A ) > Anonymous 4
  #37 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Chants
  #81 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Motets

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
This follow-up to Anonymous 4's debut "hit," An English Ladymass, is even better. From the choice of repertoire to the proficiency of the singing to the recorded sound, this is a standard-setting production. The 23 works--plainchants, carols, songs, and motets--invoke various aspects of the Christmas story: the visitation of the angel Gabriel, tributes to the Virgin Mary, gifts of the Magi, and hymns of praise for the birth of Christ. The sound is stunning: resonant yet intimate, warm yet vibrant. And while you can hear the individual character of each voice, together these four women make a sound of uncommon purity and beauty. The technical facility is evident with each closing phrase, each perfect unison. Critics are advised to jealously reserve such words as outstanding, excellent, and superior. But this is one of those recordings that deserve all those descriptions. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True magic, December 18, 2000

By	Elizabeth G. Melillo "gloriana" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The purity and perfection of tone in this collection makes the haunting selections a treat for anyone with a liking for mediaeval music. The Anonymous 4 reproduce chant exactly as it was intended to be done - not in an operatic style (and I am an opera buff!), but with the style of a mediaeval monastery.

The beauty of this recording is such that I often use it during meditation and prayer - and what, after all, is Christmas about?

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful listening, September 18, 2000

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

I realize that there are muscians (including friends) who are not fond of the Anonymous 4 because of their "head sound" and lack of vibrato. I have also attended lectures that said that is what makes them "authentic". Fortunately, I am not a musician and can simply say I don't care, I enjoy their sound.

Even more than their voices, I appreciate their digging into old manuscripts and resurrecting excellent but forgotten pieces. The plainchant on this cd is taken from a 13th century antiphoner from Worcester. The remainder of the music is also English but polyphonic.

The acrostic hymn A solis ortus cardine is included with only its Christmas portion; the carols all have refrains (part of the distinction made here between carols and songs) and are from the 14th-15th century. There are five motets in traditional style. In short, despite the restrictions of time and place, the cd is varied.

This is a top notch album of traditional Christmas music - the chant and polyphony encouraged by the liturgical documents for use in the Latin Rite Catholic Church. This album shows why it is worth keeping as an active tradition.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Christmas Music, October 23, 2002

By	Christopher Forbes "weirdears" (Brooklyn,, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I am relatively odd about Christmas music. I don't break out the Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole like everyone else. Instead I find that I like medieval stuff for Christmas. And this is about as perfect a Medieval Christmas album as you can ask for. The Anonymous 4 is a group of lovely female voices who, on this disc, sing the English medieval carols that made them famous initially. Put it on the CD with a roaring log fire and some Eggnog! Wonderful!