Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain / Sorrell, Apollo's Fire
Avie Records

Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain / Sorrell, Apollo's Fire

$19.99

Details

Composer
TRADITONAL
Artist
Apollo's Fire, Powell, Hauck, Strauss, Apollo's Singers, Sorrell
Format
CD
Label
Avie Records
Released
Oct 19, 2018
Catalog #
AV2396
UPC
822252239621

About

Following the release of the award-winning Sugarloaf Mountain: An Appalachian Gathering, which was a Top 5 Billboard Classical Crossover hit, Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire present Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain. In this celebration of the American immigrant experience, fiddlers, medieval harp, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes and singers join with children’s voices to evoke the Celtic roots of an Appalachian Christmas. From Christmas Eve in medieval Scotland to folk carols and shape-note hymns at a toe-tapping Christmas gathering in Virginia, Apollo’s Fire follows the journeys of the Irish and Scottish settlers who bravely crossed the Atlantic, settled in the mountains and welcomed Christmas with love, singing, dancing and prayer. Acclaim for the premiere performances of this program was widespread: “The lightning strike of genius can happen, sometimes even repeatedly to those willing to earn it. Jeannette Sorrell is one such person. This show was intense, interesting, spectacularly performed, and deeply moving. If that’s not genius, I don’t know what is.” (Seen & Heard International)

REVIEWS:

Apollo’s Fire is a celebrated baroque orchestra, but their ventures into folk music are just as celebrated. This is music of and by amateurs, here arranged and performed with professional skill, but without sacrificing its vibrant folk quality to the glitz of showbiz. This recording is a must have for anyone susceptible to the allure of this tradition.

– American Record Guide

There are other ways to reveal fresh musical truths in the context of Christmas, and the determination of another early music group to do so has produced my vote for festive disc of the year. Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain from Apollo’s Fire charts the passage of Scottish and Irish immigrants to the Appalachian Mountains in the 1830s. The Baroque music group gives us sounds we don’t often associate with Bethlehem but are probably far closer to what was heard there: zingy harps, reedy winds and plenteous modality.

– Gramophone

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 Christmas Eve Reel - Christmas Eve in America - Old Christmas Eve (Ireland, England, Appalachian) (arr. J. Sorrell) 03:22
    Track
    1
    Title
    Christmas Eve Reel - Christmas Eve in America - Old Christmas Eve (Ireland, England, Appalachian) (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  2. 2 The Truth Sent from Above (arr. J. Sorrell) 05:28
    Track
    2
    Title
    The Truth Sent from Above (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    05:28
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell, Ross Hauck
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  3. 3 Sheep Under the Snow - Apples in Winter - Little Christmas Reel (arr. R. Schiffer) 04:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    Sheep Under the Snow - Apples in Winter - Little Christmas Reel (arr. R. Schiffer)
    Duration
    04:15
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Susanna Perry Gilmore
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  4. 4 Blow, Northern Wind (arr. B. Kay) 03:30
    Track
    4
    Title
    Blow, Northern Wind (arr. B. Kay)
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Brian Kay
  5. 5 Don Oiche Úd I mBeithil (arr. B. Bigley) 01:52
    Track
    5
    Title
    Don Oiche Úd I mBeithil (arr. B. Bigley)
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Brian Bigley
  6. 6 That Night in Bethlehem (arr. J. Sorrell) 03:39
    Track
    6
    Title
    That Night in Bethlehem (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Jeffrey Strauss
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  7. 7 Nowell sing we, both all and some (arr. J. Sorrell) 01:48
    Track
    7
    Title
    Nowell sing we, both all and some (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell, Ross Hauck, Molly Netter, Jeffrey Strauss
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  8. 8 Innesheer - Ships in Full Sail and I Saw Three Ships - New Christmas Reel (arr. K. Stewart) 03:50
    Track
    8
    Title
    Innesheer - Ships in Full Sail and I Saw Three Ships - New Christmas Reel (arr. K. Stewart)
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Kathie Stewart
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire, Apollo's Musettes
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  9. 9 Yorkshire Carol - Somerset Wassail - Kentucky Wassail (arr. J. Sorrell) 05:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    Yorkshire Carol - Somerset Wassail - Kentucky Wassail (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    05:45
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Michael Temesi, Jeffrey Strauss
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire, Apollo's Musettes
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  10. 10 Bright Morning Stars 03:12
    Track
    10
    Title
    Bright Morning Stars
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell, Tina Bergmann, Ross Hauck
  11. 11 Christ Child's Lullaby (Talladh Chriosta) (arr. J. Sorrell and A. Powell) 05:47
    Track
    11
    Title
    Christ Child's Lullaby (Talladh Chriosta) (arr. J. Sorrell and A. Powell)
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  12. 12 Frost and Snow - 28th of January - Dominion Reel (arr. R. Schiffer and T. Bergmann) 03:56
    Track
    12
    Title
    Frost and Snow - 28th of January - Dominion Reel (arr. R. Schiffer and T. Bergmann)
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Tina Bergmann
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  13. 13 Jesus Born in Beth'ny (arr. J. Sorrell) 01:31
    Track
    13
    Title
    Jesus Born in Beth'ny (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Traditional, Jeannette Sorrell
    Performer
    Michael Temesi
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Musettes
  14. 14 Star in the East - Shepherd's Star 03:40
    Track
    14
    Title
    Star in the East - Shepherd's Star
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  15. 15 Joseph and Mary - I Wonder As I Wonder (arr. J. Sorrell and J.J. Niles) 05:07
    Track
    15
    Title
    Joseph and Mary - I Wonder As I Wonder (arr. J. Sorrell and J.J. Niles)
    Duration
    05:07
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell, Ross Hauck
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  16. 16 The Gravel Walk - Over the Isles to America (arr. J. Sorrell) 02:34
    Track
    16
    Title
    The Gravel Walk - Over the Isles to America (arr. J. Sorrell)
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Jeannette Sorrell
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  17. 17 Hop High Ladies - June Apple Reel 02:29
    Track
    17
    Title
    Hop High Ladies - June Apple Reel
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Ian Crane, Brian Bigley
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  18. 18 Cold Frosty Morning - Old Christmas - Breakin' Up Christmas (arr. R. Schiffer and T. Bergmann) 04:18
    Track
    18
    Title
    Cold Frosty Morning - Old Christmas - Breakin' Up Christmas (arr. R. Schiffer and T. Bergmann)
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell
  19. 19 The Parting Glass 02:13
    Track
    19
    Title
    The Parting Glass
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Amanda Powell, Ross Hauck
    Ensemble
    Apollo's Fire
    Conductor
    Jeannette Sorrell