American Christmas

Joel Frederiksen (Performer), Daniel McCabe (Performer), Anonymous (Composer), Christmas Traditional (Composer), American Traditional (Composer), John Jacob Niles (Composer), John Francis Wade (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), American Anonymous (Composer), Benjamin Franklin White (Composer), William Billings (Composer), Patsy Williamson (Composer), Carl Thiel (Composer), Daniel Read (Composer), Joel Cohen (Conductor, Performer), Frederick Jodry (Conductor), Boston Camerata (Performer), Jesse Lepkoff (Performer), Anne Azema (Performer), William Hite (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Joel Frederiksen, Daniel McCabe, Joel Cohen, Boston Camerata, Jesse Lepkoff, et al.
• Conductor: Joel Cohen, Frederick Jodry
• Composer: Anonymous, Christmas Traditional, American Traditional, John Jacob Niles, John Francis Wade, et al.
• Audio CD (September 7, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Erato
• ASIN: B000000SM1
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,390 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Watchman of Zion

2. Kingsbridge

3. Bozrah

4. Baptismal Anthem

5. Christmas Hymn

6. Virgin Most Pure/A Virgin Unspotted

7. Boston

8. Heavenly Courtier

9. Pretty Home

10. Midnight Cry

11. Wayfaring Stranger

12. Slow Traveller

13. I Wonder as I Wander

14. Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child (Slow Traveller)

15. Lovely Vine

16. Adeste Fideles

17. Still Water

18. While Shepherds Watched (Folksong)

19. Sherburne

20. Shepherds, Rejoice

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best traditional Christmas records I have heard., December 15, 1998

By A Customer

I collect Christmas recordings, and this has quickly become one of my favorites. The singing and playing are first rate (as are the Boston Camarata's other recordings). If you need an antidote for slow, syrupy, boring mall Christmas music, this is it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking!, August 29, 2001

By	ladygwyneth (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

I bought this CD after hearing the Boston Camerata live performing Carmina Burana. Lucky enough to meet them afterwards, I asked one of them which of their Christmas albums was the best, and he recommended this one. I was not disappointed. As other reviewers have said, it's refreshing to hear Christmas music that's different from the run of the mill, but it's also done with such artistry and feeling that I imagine if they remade Alvin and the Chipmunks' Christmas album, it would still be unutterably gorgeous. The group choral numbers are so rich you could lose yourself in them, especially Lovely Vine and The Midnight Cry. But for me the highlight is bass-baritone Joel Frederiksen's tender rendition of Hush My Babe, which gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. If you have any interest in choral music, early music, or just plain good music, buy this!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Christmas Albums, September 4, 2000

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

This album is an excellent selection of early American music done is a variety of styles - the notes are very clear about the choices made in performance.

Watchman of Zion is of the Mennonite shape-note tradition performed as an unacompanied solo. Kingbridge is done in the West Gallery tradition in its American flavor i.e. women's voices rather than high instruments. Baptismal Anthem is from the Original Sacred Harp with the addition of the alto line i.e. as it would be performed by shaped-note singing communities today. It does not contain the singing of the shapes that you would expect on a folk recording of the piece. The flute solo of Wayfaring Stranger is a gem from folk transmission.

The remainder of the album is as diverse and enjoyable. This should fall well into the top ten Christmas albums.