The Christmas concerts of Chanticleer are an institution in the USA, and international tours and recordings have made the brilliant male-voice ensemble, based in San Francisco, familiar to audiences all over the world. As Gramophone has written, "Chanticleer, it seems, can sing just about anything," and Chanticleer sings Christmas bears that out, embracing traditional carols and gospel numbers, plainsong, European and Mexican music of the 16th and 17th centuries, and composers and arrangers of the present day.

Classical Music

A Christmas staple for households all around the world for decades, this wonderful collection of Pavarotti's most festive music is a treasured recording. This album captures the essence of the season with a collection of timeless carols and sacred songs, including the triumphant "Adeste Fideles," year-round favorites such as Schubert's "Ave Maria," and the titular "O Holy Night." Pavarotti's rendition of "O Holy Night" is a stunning celebration of Christmas, showcasing the legendary tenor's unmatched vocal brilliance. The perfect Christmas gift for established Pavarotti fans and those discovering his music for the first time alike, O Holy Night offers a stirring, joyful soundtrack to the festive season.

Voces8, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble, is pleased to announce the release of their new album, 'A Choral Christmas' out on November 3rd via Decca Classics and showcasing a joyful, cinematic soundscape-packed hamper of choral and orchestral treats. A Christmas musical extravaganza filled with sparkling, cinematic new arrangements of favourite carols from US composer Taylor Scott Davis. Featuring several world premiere recordings of brand new works and arrangements, including the centrepiece of the album, a major new work for choir and orchestra, Taylor Scott Davis's dazzling setting of the Magnificat, originally commissioned for Voces8's LIVE From London festival. Also includes a serene and intimate new a cappella carol The Sleeping Child from British composer Bob Chilcott written especially for Voces8. Largest scale recording of Voces8 to date - featuring the Voces8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra for the first time, instrumental soloists and conducted by Voces8's co-founder and countertenor Barnaby Smith.

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with the reissue of two historic albums by The RIAS Kammerchor. The famous Berlin choir revisits some of the loveliest pieces of music ever devoted to the Nativity and the tutelary figure of Mary.

Classical Music

Limited seven inch red colored vinyl single pressing.

Limited red colored vinyl LP pressing of this classic holiday album from the iconic jazz vocalist.

Deluxe double vinyl LP pressing of the 2021 holiday release from the acclaimed singer/songwriter.

The holiday season usually brings an expected harvest of albums. But, every once in a while, a seasonal release seeks to surprise, delight and refresh our love for the music of snow and celebration in a new way. Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer Ted Nash and singular singer/songwriter Kristen Lee Sergeant have brought something of this high caliber to the party in Holidays: a markedly distinctive record for the season. Ted Nash is well known as a bandleader and as a member and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He is paired with Kristen Lee Sergeant, a vocalist and songwriter who has been singled out for her intelligent lyrics and dramatic styling of song. Nash and Sergeant aren't just occasional partners on the bandstand (Nash has appeared in several of Sergeant's releases), they are partners in life with all that entails, including a collaboration in wine called Two Notes, now in it's fourth vintage.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Recorded in: St Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London 11-17 January 1991 Producer(s) Tim Oldham Sound Engineer(s) Richard Lee Peter Sheldon (Assistant)

Classical Music

The unique radiance of traditional English choral singing that made Agnus Dei such a phenomenon is displayed in this set of international Christmas music by Higginbottom & The Choir of New College, Oxford. Mixing familiar tunes with less frequently heard gems, the carol texts take the listener from Annunciation through Epiphany with music from around the world - including the eloquent Poulenc Christmas Motets and Herbert Howell's haunting carol-anthems.

Bach's Christmas Oratorio consists of six cantatas, the first of which was first performed at Christmas in 1734 at the town church of Leipzig, the Nikolaikirche, in the morning, with an afternoon performance at the Tomaskirche. The second part was performed on 26th December, in the morning at the Tomaskirche and in the afternoon at the Nikolaikirche, while the third was performed only at the Nikolaikirche on 27th December. The fourth part was performed first on 1st January 1735, the Feast of the Circumcision, at the Tomaskirche and in the afternoon at the Nikolaikirche, while the fifth for the first Sunday of the New Year, 2nd January, was only performed in the morning at the Nikolaikirche. The sixth part was given two performances on 6th January, the Feast of the Epiphany, first at the Tomaskirche and then at the larger Nikolaikirche. Although the work makes considerable use of music originally composed for other purposes, the cycle was clearly conceived as a unified work, to which the elaboration of the first chorale at the end of the sixth part bears witness. The impression is enforced by choice of keys and formal structure, in spite of the original intention of performance of each part on a different day during the twelve days of Christmas. The first three parts deal with Christmas itself, the birth of Christ and the message to the shepherds at Bethlehem. The Evangelist intervenes only once in the fourth part to mention the circumcision and naming of Jesus. In the fifth are the reactions of the Wise Men to Bethlehem, their departure ending the Evangelist's account. The instruments used in the Christmas Oratorio include the ubiquitous four part string orchestra, with a keyboard continuo part for organ, the bass line doubled by cello and bassoon. Transverse flutes, rather than recorders, are used in some movements while the oboes used include pairs of ordinary oboes as well as pairs of the alto and tenor of the family, the oboe d'amore and the oboe da caccia. Brass instruments include three natural trumpets, their melodic parts restricted by their nature to the brilliant upper clarino register. Timpani make their due appearance with the trumpets. Two natural horns, corni da caccia, make a brief appearance in two numbers in the fourth part. There are four vocal soloists, soprano, alto, tenor and bass.

CHRISTMAS WITH PAUL PLISHKA

JOY TO THE WORLD

Includes the greatest story ever told. Ensemble: Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hayman.

Track Listing
1. Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
2. Room's Opening Lines
3. Wassail Carol
4. Father Christmas Verse
5. Boar's Head Carol, The
6. Constant Billy
7. Here We Come a-Wassailing
8. Villagers All!
9. There Was a Pig
10. Monk's March, The
11. Dargason
12. Fra Giovanni
13. Holly and the Ivy, The
14. Fool's Verse
15. Lord of the Dance
16. Brass Fanfare
17. Masters in This Hall
18. Shakespeare Lines
19. Nova! Nova!
20. Nativity
21. Alle Psallite Cum Luya
22. Moon Shines Bright, The
23. St. George's Verse
24. Sword Dance Tunes
25. Shortest Day, The
26. Wren Song, The
27. Apple Tree Wassail
28. 12 Days of Christmas, The
29. Fool's Farewell, The
30. Sussex Mummers' Carol

There are Christians who refuse to celebrate the season because of its pagan origins, grounded in Solstice revels. These origins were made abundantly clear when John Langstaff first staged the Christmas Revels in New York City's Town Hall in 1957. The Revels, then, were a celebration of the rebirth of the New Year, but Langstaff added a twist. He would also enfold Christ -- the "Lord of the Dance" -- into his pageant, arguing that His death and rebirth fit perfectly into ancient pagan ritual. This 1978 version of The Christmas Revels offers but one version of the ever-evolving procession, featuring Langstaff as lead baritone on favorites like "The Boar's Head Carol" and "Lord of the Dance." A large cast, performing choral vocals, spoken parts, and instrumentals, brings an energetic dignity to a mixture of traditional songs, dances, ritual, and poetry. While the spoken portions of the Revels probably work better in a live theater experience, its important to remember that the program is meant as a community celebration. While some people will find this music a bit eccentric, the sort of thing one might hear on public radio on Christmas Eve; The Christmas Revels breaks away from yet another version of "Silent Night" and offers a refreshing way to celebrate the season. Pagans of all stripes will also be glad to have a holiday album to call their own. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Songs for Singing Children with John Langstaff