An American Christmas

The Tudor Choir (Composer), William Billings (Composer), Edward French (Composer), R. Herron (Composer), Jeremiah Ingalls (Composer), John Massengale (Composer), John G. McCurry (Composer), Daniel Read (Composer), Joseph Stephenson (Composer), Timothy Swan (Composer)

Product Details

• Composer: The Tudor Choir, William Billings, Edward French, R. Herron, Jeremiah Ingalls, et al.
• Audio CD (August 5, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Loft Recordings
• ASIN: B00009W0WZ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #218,730 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Shepherd's Star

2. Shiloh

3. Cherry Tree

4. Antioch

5. Sherburne

6. Emanuel. For Christmas

7. Redemption. S.M.

8. Anthem from Luke

9. Joys Seven

10. Bethlehem. C.M.

11. Redemption. L.M.

12. Boston. For Christmas

13. Bonnie Doon

14. Star in the East

15. Oxford

16. Judea

17. New Bethlehem

18. London

19. I Saw Three Ships

20. Raymond

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

THE NEWS TRIBUNE

"Fascinating, truly unusual music for modern ears...not just for holiday listening."

Product Description

The Tudor Choir explores Christmas tunes belonging to the American shapenote tradition. Contains an early American version of "Joy to the World."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shape Note Christmas Songs Beautifully Rendered, August 5, 2009

By	Byron G. Burchett (Wilson Co., Tenn) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD will bring great joy to you at Christmas. I love variety in my Christmas music; I don't want to hear the same things over and over. These shape note selections are not as well-known today as the more commercial stuff, but they were once some of the best-known Christmas and Advent songs, part of our nation's musical heritage. The songs have an edginess many find thrilling. Shape note/Sacred Harp arrangements are different from what is commonly used today: melody is sung by men and women(tenor line), with high and low harmony (treble & bass), and freqently a counter-melody (alto).The selections are lusciously arranged and performed a cappella by the Tudor Choir [...]. They were drawn from Karen Willard's compilation music/song book [...] entitled "An American Christmas Harp." Karen is a well-known SH singer in Seattle, which is also the home base of the Tudor Choir. The liner notes and accompanying booklet are first-rate, again thanks to Karen. I came to know of Karen, her book, and this CD because I also am a SH/shape note singer. Perhaps, after listening to these performances, you will be inspired to seek out a singing yourself.