After their harsh deportment from the Canadian Maritimes in the 18th century, French-speaking Acadian people were scattered across the American continent. Many of them landed in the multicultural Louisiana, where Acadian music evolved into Cajun, while those who eventually returned to Canada rekindled their distinct style. Today the two genres are vastly different, yet their historical links remain. The fiddle is the driving force in both Acadian and Cajun dance music, and many of the traditional songs embody themes of deep longing. In spite of the challenges that both peoples have faced, they know how to make their own fun, and their music cant be taken too seriously. Both groups also love to dance. This collection includes both vocal and instrumental music from both of these culturally rich communities. This release reflects their shared commitment to laissez les bon temps rouler- let the good times roll!

Perfect for the holidays: listening to this recording is like being in Wales for Christmas! With traditional music, dance tunes, carols, and anthems from Wales, this recording features a number of Welsh children's songs, Welsh songs that the poet Dylan Thomas would have known, and songs from long, long ago.

1. Overture
2. March of the Kings
3. Bourrée en Étoile
4. Traveller's Prayer
5. Le Grand Lustukru
6. Nöel Nouvelet
7. Guillô, Pran ton Tamborin!
8. Aro Que Nostre Seigne Es Nat
9. Muwashah Jalla Men Qad Sawarak
10. Darj Bayyati
11. Stella Splendens
12. Gaudete
13. Veni, Veni Emanuel
14. The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
15. What Shall I Give to the Child?
16. L'Homme Armé
17. Riu Riu Chiu
18. Bourrée Chainee de Rivarennes
19. Le Sommeil de l'Enfant Jésus
20. Amen
21. Sing We Noel

Personnel includes: George Emlen, David Gay, Roberta Humez (conductor); John Langstaff (conductor, vocals); Jerome Epstein (conductor, concertina); The Revels Chorus, Youth Pro Musica (vocals); John Fleagle (vocals, gaita, medieval harp, lyzarden, rebec, pipe, tabor); Chris Rua (vocals, recorder, shawm, bass viol); Hannah Davidson (alto recorder, bass dulcian, bass viol); The Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble (horns); Sarah Tenney (timpani, percussion).
Recorded at Paine Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, Boston, Massachusetts in Spring, 1991. Includes liner notes by Susan Cooper.

Personnel: Julian Cole (viols, rebec, double bass, recorders, percussion); Chris Rua (viols, recorders, shawm, oboe, harp, percussion); Lisle Kulbach (recorders, rebec, psaltery, harp, viols, violin, six-hole pipe); Tom Zajac (recorders, Renaissance flute, hurdy-gurdy, Jew's harp, bagpipe, pipe, tabor, sackbut, percussion), The Young Singers from the Washington Revels, The Handbell Choir of St. Peter's School Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (background vocals).
Recorded at St. Columbia's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C. in June 1992. Includes liner notes by Susan Cooper.

Personnel includes: John Langstaff, Carol Duveneck, Hillary Wells (vocals); Susan Ward (vocals, shawm, handbell); Ruth Dornfeld, Mary Lea (fiddle); Neal MacMillian (fiddle, Northumbrian pipes); Peter Barnes (pennywhistle, piano, synthesizer); David Coffin (recorder); James Polk, Lawrence Rosenwald (recorder, handbell); Jerome Epstein, Tom Kruskal (concertina); Nigel Nathan (sackbut, handbell); George Emlen, David Gay (synthesizer); Sean Reynolds (bodhran).
Cambridge Symphonic Brass & Tympani: Bruce Hall, Kenneth Pullig (trumpet); Richard Hudson (French horn); Kevin Henry (trombone); Gregory Fitze (tuba); Sarah Tenney (tympani).
Recorded at Paine Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachussets in 1987. Includes liner notes by Susan Cooper.

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.