Among the many liturgical composers who have shared their talents with us over the past few decades, Francis Patrick O'Brien consistently captures the wants, needs, and capacity of the Sunday morning choir beautifully! The Word Is Born is a marvelous collection of Christmas offerings, with ideal pieces for children's choir, ensemble, and of course, adult choir. Song after song is highly usable during the season, from Advent through the Baptism of the Lord. Filled with tastefully crafted and highly singable music for all types of choirs, The Word Is Born is sure to become a Christmas standard for years to come.

David Haas and friends invite you to celebrate Christmas in a fresh way with the release of his new collection, Star Child. A combination of recent orginal compositions and special arrangements of traditional favorites, this musical celebration will stir joy and reflection. New, evocative texts by Brian Wren, Ruth Duck, Jaroslav Vajda, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Shirley Erena Murray, and others are featured in this collection, and the vocal and instrumental arrangements will challenge many parish and liturgical ensembles. All selections will be available in octavo format, perfect for Christmas celebrations; and with a fresh sound for the season, this innovative recording makes a wonderful gift for any music lover.

Christmas Songs T�lz Boys' Choir Label CAPRICCIO RECORDINGS

Includes work(s) by various composers. Ensemble: Elora Festival Singers. Conductor: Noel Edison. Soloist: Michael Bloss.

CHRISTMAS PIANO MUSIC

'Another red-letter entry in the Collegium/Cambridge Singers canon' - Choral Review

The inspiration for Hugo Distler’s gem of a Christmas narrative can be found in the German-language protestant sacred music of the early baroque era, especially the music of Heinrich Schütz. Drawing on Schütz’s example, Distler composed his Christmas story exclusively for vocalists – soloists and a 4-8-voiced ensemble – in what is, in Distler’s own words, described as an “Oratorium mit kammermusikalishem Charakter." We also hear parts of the beautiful choral Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, which appears seven times during the course of the narrative. – every time in a new harmonic colour. The story of Hugo Distler’s life is a tragic one. Born in Nuremburg in 1908, he would go on to teach at the School for Church Music in Spandau before being appointed professor of church music in Stuttgart in 1940. Distler, who was a deeply religious man, has been recognized as a forerunner of the New German Church Music, an important musical movement which developed in the 1930s. The Nazis stigmatized Distler’s compositions as “degenerate art”, and when he received his conscription papers, he took his life. Sadly, Distler’s music is seldom performed outside of Germany even to this day. Hailed by Gramophone as “a choir worth listening to for their beautiful singing, which can deliver performances of pure, natural eloquence,” the 16 voices of the award-winning vocal ensemble Concert Clemens, founded by conductor Carsten Seyer-Hansen in 1997, has established itself as one of the leading vocal ensembles in Scandinavia. Their stylistic versatility has been seen in numerous collaborations exploring the connections between jazz and classical music as well as note-perfect interpretations of standard repertoire. The evangelist, tenor Adam Riis, is one of Denmark’s leading voices. Recorded in the DXD format by the Danish “Wizard of Sound”, Preben Iwan, in the resonant sonics of Skt. Markus Kirken, Århus.

This is a Christmas album that has a sense of place; clearly identifying the Chorale as both American and from a border state with Mexico; and something for everyone whether they prefer serious or light festive fare. There is Mexican influence in the repertoire choices; which include Catalan folksongs as well as Hispanic Renaissance music. It includes a commission by Cecilia McDowall; written for Christmas 2021; new arrangements of all tracks and also some contemporary Christmas favourites such as Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells.

This marks the Chorale’s return to recording following an 8-year hiatus; and their first album with Signum Records. “Festive repertoire plays an important role in the performance cycle of every choir; and it felt fitting to begin our journey with a Christmas recording that established a sense of place for the ensemble: we chose to record repertoire that is all American or Hispanic in origin; save for the newly-commissioned piece by Cecilia McDowall that was written to mark the centenary of our home in Phoenix; Trinity Cathedral. Our aim is to translate the warmth of Arizona into our sound; to convey the rhetoric of every text; and celebrate the good health of the American Choral Tradition.” - Christopher Gabbitas

At Christmas, we are especially touched by vocal music. Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio ensures sold-out churches for organizers. Last Christmas, Silent Night and Feliz Navidadare played over and over again in department stores. Choral music also provides a suitable musical setting for baking Christmas biscuits and wrapping presents. What is it that makes this music so appealing? Is it just the memories and traditions associated with it, or does the general atmosphere of Christmas songs already result in a radically different sound? Even in a secular world, Advent and Christmas maintain their central importance in the course of the year. The focus has evolved from the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus to a festival of mutual affection.

Here are charmingly fresh folk carols from the French countryside, arranged by one of the Ancien Régime’s favorite composers, and played alternately on the organ, the harpsichord and the fortepiano, following Balbastre’s own practice.

Considered one of the major harpsichordists of his generation, Olivier Baumont has for several decades enjoyed a rich career as a performer, teacher and researcher. At the Conservatoire national supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, juries unanimously awarded him first prizes for harpsichord and chamber music. He benefited from the artistic guidance of Huguette Dreyfus and Kenneth Gilbert, and was occasionally invited by Gustav Leonhardt to attend his interpretation classes in Cologne. Olivier Baumont’s fine qualities as a musician were quickly recognized. Curious, ardent and erudite, he has a keen sense of communication (masterclasses, conferences, radio and television programs), he enjoys being on stage and takes pleasure in sharing his taste for the 17th and 18th centuries with others, making him hailed as an artist with multiple facets, solicited around the world.

Peter Schreier sings Christmas Carols was one of the best-selling records of the GDR. Beyond the borders of the East, the album of the legendary record label ETERNA enjoyed great popularity, which has continued unbroken after the German reunification, especially through the restoration of the original recording tapes and the release of the album on CD. This re-release available on vinyl is intended to trace the life of the "world Saxon" (Der Spiegel) almost 50 years after its first release. Peter Schreier, one of the most outstanding tenors and artistic personalities of the 20th century, can now be experienced again on the original medium in new sonic beauty. An unparalleled Christmas experience.

Advent is a time of heightened feelings: anticipation and tense expectation alternate with moments of reflection and proverbial contemplation. The Holy Night, finally, is both: a bright and radiant time, but also a darkness that invites to contemplation. Advent is also a time of contrasts: the king of the world is a child, the savior of the world lies in a manger among animals. It is these tensions, contrasts and manifold states of mind that are at the heart of the new album of the Dresdner Kammerchor with music for Advent and Christmas by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621). 2021 is the year of the 450th anniversary of the birth and 400th anniversary of the death of Michael Praetorius. He was a composer, organist, court kapellmeister and scholar in the transitional period from Renaissance to Baroque. He is one of the most important musicians in Europe around 1600. The program provides a selection of the most beautiful Advent music to accompany not only the Advent and Christmas season with his masterpieces, but also to let the listener discover the music of Michael Praetorius.

Franziska Lee has made a name for herself as an exceptional pianist capable of eliciting an orchestral palette of colors from the piano. Following her debut release featuring an exclusively 20th-century French program (Capriccio C3006), Lee has devoted her second recording to British composers of the same period. Together they tell a story of their time, from Britten’s exuberant Holiday Diary, a joyful interlude between the wars, to Tippett’s escapist Piano Sonata No. 1, written on the eve of the Second World War. With effortless virtuosity and musical insight Lee shines a light on a lesser-known corner of the piano repertoire.

REVIEW:

Michael Tippett’s Sonata No 1 for piano could have done with an explanation in the liner notes. Although an early work, it was his first composition to be critically acclaimed as stylistically integrated. Franziska Lee gives here an exhilarating, well-studied performance.

Franziska Lee is truly enthusiastic and sensitive towards 20th century British piano music. Do visit her webpage. I know well all the pieces recorded here: she gave me new insights—and considerable listening pleasure.

-- MusicWeb International

Shortlisted for the Gramophone Awards!

Classical Music