28 selections of music and poetry in celebration of the winter solstice drawn from sixteen years of The Christmas Revels in Portland, Oregon. Twelve old...

28 selections of music and poetry in celebration of the winter solstice drawn from sixteen years of The Christmas Revels in Portland, Oregon.

Twelve old world countries are represented in music spanning more than six centuries – from a 14th-century ballade by Guillaume de Machaut to Edvard Grieg’s stunning 19th-century eight part setting of the Marian hymn “Ave Maris Stella” to new arrangements of traditional carols and songs, some with new lyrics written by Portland Revels founder Richard Lewis, whose poetry is also represented in this collection.

Personnel: Elizabeth Nicholson (harp); Shulamit Kleinerman (vielle, violin); Betsy Branch (violin, baritone violin); Gayle Neuman (violin, viola, recorder); Polly Gibson (viola da gamba, recorder); Daphne Clifton (rackett, recorder); Philip Neuman (recorder, curtal); Jeffrey Snyder (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mike Hankins (trumpet); Jen Harrison (French horn); Greg Scholl (trombone); John Walling (tuba); Tom Sessa (percussion); Portland Revels Renaissance Band, Portland Brass Quintet.

Track Listing • Canzona per Sonare #4 • Personent Hodie • The Year/Je Sui Aussi • A Christmas Caroll • O Magnum Mysterium • Jenny Pluck Pairs • Comes the Morning • Nou is Yole Comen • Offerat Ecclesia • The Bells of the Morning • The Darkest Midnight in December • The Garten Mother’s Lullaby • Calon Lan • A Sonnet for Peace • Belle, Qui Tiens Ma Vie • The Holly and the Ivy • Gaudette! • The Wexford Carol • Quem Pastores Laudavere • Il Est Bel et Bon • Folkefresar, Til Oss Kom • Myllarguten’s Bridal March • Ave Maris Stella • Dejlig er Den Himmel Bla • Eclipse • Traveller’s Prayer • Festa • Verbum Caro Factum Est

Recording information: Airshow Mastering, Washington, DC (05/10/2010); Bauman Auditorium, George Fox University, Newberg, Oreg (05/10/2010); Airshow Mastering, Washington, DC (05/22/2010-05/27/2010); Bauman Auditorium, George Fox University, Newberg, Oreg (05/22/2010-05/27/2010).

“Enough merriment to send the nastiest Grinch running for cover!” — Sunset magazine

“The Christmas Revels is a terrific community celebration; it draws on the older traditions of the winter solstice … bursting with warmth” — Oregon Public Broadcasting