Classical Christmas [BOX SET]

Siegfried Loenz (Performer), Siegfried Lorenz (Performer), John [The Elder] Alcock (Composer), Johann Michael Bach (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Arcangelo Corelli (Composer), Michel Corrette (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Johann David Heinichen (Composer), Georg Friedrich Kauffmann (Composer), Johann Ludwig Krebs (Composer), Francesco Manfredini (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Hieronymus Praetorius (Composer), Michael Praetorius (Composer), Henry Purcell (Composer), Johann Hermann Schein (Composer), Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Giusepe Torelli (Composer)

Product Details

• Performer: Siegfried Loenz, Siegfried Lorenz
• Composer: John [The Elder] Alcock, Johann Michael Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Arcangelo Corelli, Michel Corrette, et al.
• Audio CD (September 30, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Delta
• ASIN: B000001W1V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,661 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #12 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( H ) > Heinichen, Johann David
  #13 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Schmelzer, Johann H.
  #16 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( P ) > Praetorius, Hieronymus

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. No. 2 March - Berlin Symphony Orchestra

2. No. 4 Dance Scene - Berlin Symphony Orchestra

3. No. 5 Scene and the Grandfather Dance - Berlin Symphony Orchestra

4. No. 6 Scene - Berlin Symphony Orchestra

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Vom Himmel Hoch (Christmas Cantata): Coro - Vom Himmel Hoch da ... - Dresden Kreuzchor, Dresden Philharmonic

2. Ave Verum (From "Mozartiana-Suite") - Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart

3. Messiah: Coro - And the Glory of the Lord - RIAS-Kammerchor, Rias Sinfonietta

4. Tantum Ergo in E Flat Major D. 962 - Gisela Fetting, Astrid Pilzecher, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Karl Heinz Schmieder, Ekkehard Wagner

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Sleepers, Wake, The Voice Is Calling - Ludwig Güttler

2. Wie Schön Leuchter Der Morgenstern - Felix Friedrich

3. Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn - Ludwig Güttler, Friedrich Kircheis

4. Sleppers, Wake, The Voice Is Calling - Hansjurgen Scholze

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Tönet, Ihr Pauken (From Cantata No. 214) - Ludwig Güttler, Leipzig University Chorus, , New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer, Thomanerchor Leipzig

2. Sinfonia (From Christmas Oratorio) - Ludwig Güttler, New Bach Collegium Musicum, Max Pommer, Thomanerchor Leipzig, Virtuosi Saxoniae

3. In Dulci Jubilo - Ludwig Güttler, Leipzig Capella Fidicinia, New Bach Collegium Musicum, Max Pommer, Rostock Motet Choir, Thomanerchor Leipzig

4. Großer Herr, O Starker König (From Christmas Oratorio) - Ludwig Güttler, Siegfried Lorenz, , New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer, Thomanerchor Leipzig

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 5

1. In Dulci Jubilo

2. Pastorale Per la Notte Di Natale - Virtuisi Saxoniae

3. Sonata Per Chiesa et Camera - Berlin Chamber Orchestra, ,

4. Jubilate Domino

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A joyful Christmas box of many rare musical jewels., December 9, 2001

By	DJ Rix (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Laserlight has the rights to so much recorded music - excellent, good, indifferent, bad - & of such varying sound quality, that it's difficult to rate the label's bargain compilations. Most are afflicted with "excerpt-itis," the "greatest hits" disease. However, some compiler with an interesting ear for the offbeat & a sense of humor put this fine five-CD Christmas box together. He or she did so by leaning on some less familiar music & by relying largely on good performances from ye olde East Germany ensembles & conductors, (as do Koch-Schwann & Berlin Classics labels, at higher prices).

The #1 disk is a solid performance of The Nutcracker Suite (also issued as a single disk by Laserlight) by Peter Wohlert conducting the Berlin Symphony (not to be confused with the Berlin Philharmonic). With that over-cooked chestnut out of the way, this compilation gets interesting.

We get some venerable excerpts of Bach cantatas, oratorios, motets & Lutheran hymns, performed by Fidicinia Capella, New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum, & the German Bach Soloists, all respectable ensembles. Edita Gruberova even joins in "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen." Plus an earful of grand organ preludes.

Handel is represented by a happy section of "Water Music" & a piece for brass instruments from his oratorio, "Judas Maccabaeus." What, no "Halleluah Chorus?" Believe me, you don't need it! But it's here all the same.

Mozart checks in with the lovely, too brief, "Ave verum Corpus," motet for chorus, strings, & organ, K. 618. We also get snappy, dutiful baroque contributions from Vivaldi, Corelli & Purcell.

The remainder of the set is filled out with music from: Pavel Josef Vejvanovsky; Francesco Onofrio Manfredini; Johann Ludwig Krebs; George Friedrich Kauffmann; John the Elder Alcock; Michel Corrette; Michael Praetorius; Johann David Heinichen; Johann Heinrich Schmelzer; & Giuseppe Torelli. The inclusion of these marvelous obscurities pushes this bargain compilation over the top.

I give it four stars because the performances & sound quality vary considerably. But the compensation comes from hours of joyously felt Nativity music, a good deal of it unfamiliar yet beautiful all the same. Load all five into the CD changer, hit the random button, relax & enjoy your spiced eggnog with family & friends.

The five CDs are titled: 1. The Nutcracker 2. Classical Christmas 3. Christmas Music for Trumpet & Organ 4. Johann Sebastian Bach - Christmas Music 5. Baroque Christmas Music. They can be purchased individually.