Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity

Boris Ord (Composer), Herbert Howells (Composer), Harold Edwin Darke (Composer), John Rutter (Composer), Patrick Hadley (Composer), Peter Cornelius (Composer), Sir Richard Runciman Terry (Composer), Samuel Scheidt (Composer), Johann Georg Ebeling (Composer), William James Kirkpatrick (Composer), Nicholas Sears (Composer), Ruth Holton (Composer), Christmas Traditional (Conductor), Gerald Finley (Performer), Cambridge Singers (Performer), William Ballet (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Gerald Finley, Cambridge Singers, William Ballet
• Conductor: Christmas Traditional
• Composer: Boris Ord, Herbert Howells, Harold Edwin Darke, John Rutter, Patrick Hadley, et al.
• Audio CD (January 20, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collegium
• ASIN: B0000031H5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,026 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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

  #8 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( C ) > Cornelius, Peter
  #31 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( H ) > Howells, Herbert
  #51 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( R ) > Rutter, John

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"The theme of this album is the birth of Christ, reflected in the words and music of 22 carols spanning more than six centuries." This description might also say that the program contains some of the best and best-loved Christmas choral pieces of all time, presented in a pleasing mix of familiar carols and lesser-known original works. Among the best-known selections are Darke's "In the bleak mid-winter" and Howells's "A spotless rose." Several original pieces by John Rutter appear here for the first time--"Christmas Night," "There is a flower," and "Nativity Carol." Other notable highlights are Peter Cornelius's "The three kings" and the lively Willcocks arrangement of "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day." Of course, the singing is among the best on the planet--in fact, there may even be a few heavenly angels in the soprano section. --David Vernier

Product Description
An incredible collection of 22 carols, old and new, including I Wonder As I Wander, Away In A Manger, O Tannenbaum, and In Dulci Jubilo. "In the field of choral Christmas CDs, Christmas Night shines brightest of all." David Vernier – Classics Today

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutter and The Cambridge Singers definitive Chritmas album., December 17, 1998

By	Robert F. Fix (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Of all the myriad Christmas albums available, this gem stands out as one of the finest. The Cambridge Singers cement their place as one of the world's finest choral groups and John Rutter's beautifully written Christmas music truly captures the meaning and wonder of the season. If you had to own only one Christmas abum, this would be a wonderful choice.

The recording is warm and reverberant, with good depth and space, marred only by a certain amount of vocal siblance. The best recorded of all the Rutter Christmas albums to date. I cannot recommend the disc highly enough.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely HEAVENLY Christmas CD, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

Of the 4 John Rutter/Cambridge Singers Christmas CD's that I own, this is my favorite, although they are all unspeakably lovely. I think it is the tone of the entire CD that makes it so special. It posesses a quality of tranquility and peace that I personally find mesmerizing and ethereal. Although only 3 of the carols could be considered familiar in both lyric and melody, (there are 22 carols in all) they are all beautiful. The texts and melodies range in age from 14th century to the present day. Some have ancient texts/new melodies, and some are the reverse. Most have a lullaby quality which is very calming and hypnotic, but never boring. The entire effect is haunting and almost other-worldly. One of the nicest things about this CD (practically speaking) is that each carol is not only written out in full text in the front booklet insert, but a brief description of its history is given (composer, arranger, national origin, age of both text and melody). Interesting facts are included as well. I feel that this selection's universal appeal transcends stylistic preferences that might divide many. It is impossible to listen to "Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity" without being captivated by it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtakingly beautiful --an absolute must buy., December 7, 1998

By A Customer

I have owned this CD for three Christmas seasons now, and never tire of it. If you love traditional music, this will open your ears to so many new (and very old) tunes. John Rutter is a masterful conductor, and his original compositions are among the most uplifting on this disc. If you buy no other new Christmas CD, BUY THIS ONE. You will fall in love with every gorgous melody, as my entire family has. The words to each are included -- and some bring tears to your eyes. Times have changed, but love for the meaning of Christ's birth and expressions of that love, awe and wonder, have not.