A celebration of the Christmas season, from Advent through the New Year, in music from the courts of 15th-century France and Burgundy. Music by Guillaume Du Fay, Johannes Regis, Jacob Obrecht, Josquin Desprez, Antoine Brumel, Adrian Willaert, and others.

For nearly 20 years, Seraphic Fire’s Christmas concerts have heralded the change of seasons for our audiences in South Florida, and there is no piece more associated with these yearly musical celebrations than Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. Written by Elizabeth Poston, English composer and purported World War II spy for the Allies, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree takes a Federal-era American text and clothes it in music so simple, that it could easily be an 18th-century colonial hymn. With its elegant treble-voice verse and luxurious ending canon, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree has become an indispensable part of Christmastide for thousands of our friends in our hometown of Miami, FL, and beyond.

With Poston’s masterpiece as our polestar, this new holiday recording by Seraphic Fire celebrates the simple and the authentic. From Praetorious’s double choir setting of In dulci jubilo and Gottfried Wolter’s spine-tingling Maria durch ein Dornwald ging, to familiar American carols arranged by composer contemporaries of Seraphic Fire (including Susan LaBarr, Edwin Fissinger, Timothy Takach, and Seraphic Fire’s founder Patrick Dupre Quigley), this new recording hopes to introduce new settings of old melodies that will hopefully become instant classics in your Christmas soundscape. Each Seraphic Fire Christmas program is special, and we hope that The Apple Tree: Christmas with Seraphic Fire will continue our tradition of bringing peaceful, tuneful contemplation to our beloved audiences, near and far. – James K. Bass

Konstantin Reinfeld and Benyamin Nuss are releasing "Merry Harmonica", a Christmas album that presents well-known Christmas carols in new, surprising arrangements. The idea arose spontaneously during a performance in Dubai at EXPO 2021. Reinfeld, who has been fascinated by the harmonica since his youth, brings the instrument to the album with emotional depth. The repertoire includes classic Christmas songs and international hits, reinterpreted in different styles such as jazz, blues and Latin. Prominent guest musicians such as Alma Naidu and Marc Marshall further enrich the album.

Prior to 1991, students at Westminster Choir College organized services of lessons and carols during the season of Advent. Inspired by the famous Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, these services were held in Bristol Chapel under the leadership of Sacred Music students and accompanied by student organists. Each year, for the past 30 years, we have gathered to witness this familiar tradition and to be moved by sound and word. This evening brings stability, beauty, and comfort to all who experience the music in this great space. This 30th Anniversary live recording at the Princeton University Chapel includes the Westminster Alumni Choir, Westminster Chapel Choir, Westminster Choir, Westminster Concert Bell Choir, Westminster Jubilee Singers, Westminster Symphonic Choir, Timberdale Brass, and alumnus Robert McCormick on organ.

TRACKLIST OF WORKS:

Disc 1:

• Who is This King of Glory?
• Nata Lux
• Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
• Angel Tidings
• Toccata on Veni Emmanuel
• I Wonder as I Wander
• Missa Carolae
• Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Handel: Messiah, HMW 56
• Organ Improvisation
• In Splendoribus Sanctorum (Strathclyde Motets)
• Dame Russa Trepak
• Betelehemu

Disc 2:

• Come, All Ye Faithful
• In the Bleak Midwinter
• On This Day Earth Shall Rise
• Dona Nobis Pacem
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Festival First Nowell
• Silent Night
• Ringing in the Season
• Joy to the World
• L’année d’or
• The Lord Bless You and Keep You
• Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

Christmas Piano with Alexis Ffrench

Chicago a cappella, the innovative vocal ensemble praised for its “clarity, well-balanced tone, and deep emotional involvement” (Washington Post), presents Miracle of Miracles: Music for Hanukkah, a new recording aimed at unveiling the richer meaning of the Festival of Lights, with music that ranges from heartfelt prayers to jazzy and playful holiday favorites, showcasing the creativity and vitality of American Jewish musical traditions.

The album features a collection of songs from more than 25 years of Chicago a cappella performances, arranged into a single program that replays the story of Hanukkah, from celebrations of the holiday itself through to its candles, miracles, religious observances, and traditional food and games. Collectively in search of Hanukkah songs from different Jewish traditions and communities, seven living composers / arrangers/musicians including Robert Applebaum, Gerald Cohen, Joshua Fishbein, Elliot Z. Levine, Jonathan Miller, Daniel Tunkel, and Mark Zuckerman bring fresh perspectives to songs celebrating the miracle of light.

Rich with liturgical and folk melodies, Miracle of Miracles demonstrates a keen sensitivity to both biblical and modern Hebrew, as well as Yiddish elements (and English) intertwined with American jazz and popular styles. The vocal network represented on this album fully encompasses the traditions of Hanukkah across the Diaspora and Jewish history. Works include Robert Applebaum’s stirring version of “Haneirot Halalu” and movements from the majestic “Hallel Cantata” by London-based Daniel Tunkel. Other familiar tunes include arrangements of “I am a Little Dreydl” both in its traditional Yiddish form, as arranged by Zuckerman, and in a neo-funk Hebrew/English setting titled “Funky Dreidl” arranged by Applebaum; a swing version of “S’vivon” by Steve Barnett; and a lively setting of the traditional melody for “Al HaNisim” (“For the Miracles”) by Levine.

Pianist Marina Baranova looks at Christmas through the eyes of an outsider. “I was born into a Jewish family in Ukraine and am the great-granddaughter of a rabbi. So I've never celebrated Christmas before, which allows me to look at it from the outside.“ On her new album “White Letters“ she makes her experiences audible. “This album reflects those sensations.” In her unique musicality, which combines light-fingered virtuosity with compositional sensitivity, she creates a world between Christian melodies, Ukrainian winter tunes and Jewish festival of lights sounds. All works oscillate between original, sensitive arrangement and free improvisation.

“My recording somewhat resembles a playlist that makes my personal perception of the winter mood audible. Famous Christmas pieces from the classical period meet my own compositions, works by Ukrainian composers meet pieces by Jewish tone poets such as Ernest Bloch, Rosy Wertheim and Grigory Frid, which symbolize the Hanukkah festival of lights for me,“ says the composer and pianist, who was born in Kharkiv and now lives in Hanover. The bandwidth of the album's works cuts a wide swath: from Bach-ian borrowings combined with “There's Always Tomorrow“ by Jewish composer Johnny Marks to the originally Ukrainian (and now world-famous) Christmas carol “Carol of the Bells“ to her own compositions, such as “Homeland,“ which she dedicates to her hometown.

World Premiere Recordings of Christmas Cantatas from the Archive of Assisi Monastery.

Christmas Songs from different Scandinavian Countries. Sung in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic.

Most popular and traditional Christmas Music and Songs from the Austrian Mountain Regions.

The music presented on this album was recorded during the live performances of the December 2021 and 2022 Celebration of Christmas concerts in the de Jong Concert Hall at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.

BYU Noteworthy welcomes the Christmas spirit with some holiday favorites.

Deluxe edition in lavish packaging and an extensive booklet lovingly furnished with full-color pictures, including complete vocal texts. This recording from 1974/1975, which was highly praised by the specialist press, unites outstanding soloists (Arleen Auger, Annelies Burmeister, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Michael Wittig) with the Dresdner Kreuzchor and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra (first trumpeter is once again Ludwig Guttler). Under the direction of Martin Flamig, the ensemble reaches top form here. Radiant chorales, yet with great attention to detail, and powerful arias characterize the recording, which also leaves little to be desired in terms of recording technology. A well-balanced overall sound, clear weighting of vocal solos and orchestral accompaniment. The members of the orchestra deserve to be mentioned individually, as each instrument is excellently cast.

The celebration of YULE in Northern Europe harks back to a transition from ancient Pagan Germanic culture to the more formal spirituality of the newer Christian rite. On this album the two traditions sit side by side, creating a matrix where acappella voices meet improvising instruments in a synthesis of secular and sacred.

Trio Mediæval - Anna Maria Friman - Linn Andrea Fuglseth - Jorunn Lovise + Husan Sinikka Langeland, kantele; Vegar Vårdal, hardanger fiddle and violin; Arve Henriksen, trumpet and organ; Anders Jormin, double bass; Helge Norbakken, percussion.

Advent and Christmas are for many people a time for light and hope and warmth. Yet the world around us is cold and turbulent. Wars are being fought. People are fleeing from their homes. Children are dying. Thousands of people lack food and medicine. Our prayers are for peace. We sing "Beautiful is our Earth! Glorious is God's heaven!" as a protest song for peace and justice, the world being unjust. During Advent many of us are fond of the familiar and much-loved Christmas carols as we remember them from our childhood, and as they have been sung for generations. There are carols in these traditional arrangements on this album, but there are others in completely new arrangements, made specially for Uranienborg Vokalensemble and for this recording. Christmas can be a festival that intensifies our feelings - what is good seems even better, and what hurts feels even more painful. Perhaps we have lost someone close to us: can we then sing "Oh, Christmas, so cheerful"? We know that there are people who look forward to Christmas but at the same time dread it, and we believe that Kjetil Bjerkestrand's arrangement brings out this element of equivocation and irony. The birth of Jesus - this is the message of Christmas! - a birth that changed the world for ever. May your Christmas be peaceful! Uranienborg Vokalensemble Elisabeth Holte, conductor Kjetil Bjerkestrand, synthesizers �ystein Moen, synthesizers Torun Torbo, flute Henriette Viktoria Eide Skagen, organ Morten Lindberg, balance engineer and recording producer Disc 1 Hybrid SACD MCH 5.1 DSD Stereo DSD RedBook PCM: MQA CD Disc 2 Pure Audio Blu-ray 2.0 LPCM 192/24 5.1 DTS HDMA 192/24 7.1.4 Auro-3D 96kHz 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos 48kHz mShuttle: MQA + FLAC + MP3 Region: ABC - worldwide

Classical Music

Classical Music

French star trumpet player Lucienne Renaudin Vary releases Jardins d'Hiver, a relaxed and laid back winter album. Lucienne's idea for Winter Gardens was to recreate a cozy atmosphere, as if she invites her fans to a hygge home concert. Repertoire includes: Blane Ralph, Martin Hugh, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, perfect for Christmas playlisting, Antonin Dvor�k: Slavonic Dance Op. 72, Johann Sebastian Bach: Badinerie. All tracks arranged for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra. Album was recorded with Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, conducted by Sascha Goetzel.

Deeply soothing choral music and plainsong, selected from throughout the Warner Classics and Erato catalogues. Carefully chosen to bring peace and warmth to even the deepest mid-winter night, this is the Christmas compilation that leaves the obvious behind, and instead explores a world of festive stillness and serenity.

Vinyl LP pressing of this holiday release.

Vinyl LP pressing. Whenever it's time to wait for Santa, decorate the tree or get together at Christmas parties: You can be sure that Bear Family puts together the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season every year. Our 2024 Christmas compilation focuses exclusively on classic blues and R&B material and is available in two formats to ensure everyone gets their money's worth. The vinyl album delivers fourteen festive songs ranging from favorites like Clyde McPhatter's Drifters, B.B. King and Charles Brown to obscure highlights from the Jackson Trio, blues guitarist Ralph Willis and Bay Area keyboardist Lonnie Hewitt, whose You've Been A Bad Little Girl is a Christmas revelation. The ultimate gift. When the record is placed under the Christmas tree, every R&B fan will be delighted.

Norwegian band performs a live Christmas concert, feat. holiday faves played New Orleans style.

Jim Galloway returns for this second collection of Christmas songs on Sackville. This 1992 quartet session also features pianist Jay McShann. There is a mysterioso version of "Silent Night", imaginative arrangements of hackneyed popular songs ("Rudolph" and "Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), sensitive ballads ("White Christmas" and "The Christmas Song"), jazz flavored tunes ("Christmas in New Orleans" and "Harlem") and a couple of McShann's specialties, a rhythm based romp ("Christmas Candy") and a reworking of traditional blues ideas ("Christmas Baby"). Previously released in 1993 with a different barcode: 778133305421

A Christmas album for all seasons! Ralph Sutton is one of the greatest stride and classic jazz pianists of all time. Milt Hinton became famous for "slapping" the bass and being the most recorded jazz musician appearing on well over 1,000 sessions. Gus Johnson also appeared on many sessions playing drums behind Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, Jay McShann, Ralph Sutton and many more. Born in Scotland in 1936 soprano saxophonist Jim Galloway is the youngest of the band (by fourteen years!) and has been active on the Canadian jazz scene since the mid '60s. This 1986 recording is one of the best-selling and most popular jazz Christmas albums. And for good reason: these musicians are truly all stars!

Classical Music